Non-Prescription Products for Your Dog’s Dental Health, VOHC Accepted

Have you ever smelled a less-than-pleasant aroma from a dog’s mouth? And you know they hadn’t gone through the trash recently?

Unfortunately, bad dog breath often signals a bigger issue than kitchen-trash diving. Bacteria in the mouth cause the stench, but those bacteria can wreak havoc on a dog’s teeth and gums.

So how do you remedy the problem?

Well, you need to get to the root cause. (Get it… Teeth? Root? Hold the applause.) Knowing what’s afflicting a dog’s mouth can help you address it.

What is dog dental plaque?

Plaque is a film that coats your dog’s teeth, made up of food, fur, bacteria, and calcium. And whatever tiny pieces your dog can get its paws on.

If you touch this with your nail—or even better, with a toothbrush—you’ll see the slimy-sticky substance start to fall away.

It accumulates after every introduction of food (meal, snack, treat, or otherwise). Your goal as a pet owner is to remove this as much as possible. As it’s still soft, this is the easiest stage for us pet owners to deal with, assuming our dogs aren’t fighting us tooth and claw.

There are other methods of dental care than just brushing for those with fighters, as detailed below. You just need to make sure you’re making some effort because the longer plaque sits, the further it calcifies and hardens.

What is dog dental tartar?

Tartar is plaque that sat for too long. Also called calculus, this is a harder substance ranging from brown to sickly, discolored grays. If you touch this with a brush or nail, it won’t come off; this stage needs a professional’s attention.

It’s important to note that plaque and tartar don’t solely exist on the visible portion of the teeth.

Like humans can get pockets of infection in their gums, so can dogs. Debris and bacteria can proliferate and spread further up the tooth, causing irritation along the gum line and potentially causing the loss of teeth. Not to mention the chances of facial swelling or associated infections, such as those in the nose—tartar is a monster.

If you notice plaque before your next vet appointment, consider calling to move the date up.

What products can I use at home to prevent plaque and tartar build-up?

Dogs eat with their teeth; what you expose their teeth to stands to cause further harm… or it can help reduce the overall presence of plaque and tartar. Food, chews, water additives, and so on can improve your dog’s oral health.

Thankfully, the Veterinary Oral Health Clinic does the heavy lifting for us. They do what most of us don’t want to—reviewing the numbers. We’ll summarize their findings and focus on products available to the consumer, so you can get back to loving your dog without holding your breath.

DISCLAIMER: Please check in with your vet before introducing any new dental/oral care, as they may contain ingredients that conflict with your dog’s medication, allergies, or pre-existing conditions.

For your reference, I’ve also included a link to the PDF showing the full list of their conclusions. Included in their list is the year approved (this list is limited to the 2017-2022 range); I’ll also delve into some ingredients for the dog foods in particular.

Without further ado, here are VOHC-accepted dental brands and what they can target:

Plaque Products

Dog Food

None listed yet!

Edible Chews

None listed yet!

Gels, Sprays, Toothpaste, and other Additives

Wipes, Toothbrushes

*This extends past the 5-year limit, but there are only three listed in this category.

  • HealthyMouth® Toothpaste/Brush Kit Combination for Dogs, Medium/Large Breed (Approved 2015)
  • HealthyMouth™ Anti-Plaque Wipes for Dogs (Approved 2016)

Tartar Products

Dog Food

Edible Chews

*When feeding, ensure to follow feeding instructions. If your dog is on a diet, these have calories you need to take into account, so be mindful!

Gels, Sprays, Toothpaste, and other Additives

Wipes, Toothbrushes

None listed, yet!

Both

Dog Food

  • HealthyAdvantage™ Oral Care for Dogs (Approved 2018)
    • First lines of ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Mill Run, Pork Fat, Soybean Oil, […] (Crude Protein: 25%)
  • Canagan Dental for Dogs (Approved 2020)
    • First lines of ingredients: Freshly Prepared Turkey (26%), Dried Chicken (25%), Sweet Potato, Potato, Peas, Chicken Fat (4%), Alfalfa, […] (Crude Protein: 33%)

Edible Chews

*When feeding, ensure to follow feeding instructions. If your dog is on a diet, these have calories you need to take into account, so be mindful!

Gels, Sprays, Toothpaste, and other Additives

Wipes, Toothbrushes

*This extends past the 5-year limit, but there are only three listed in this category.

  • ADA-compliant soft-bristle, flat-head toothbrush (Approved 2014)
    • Yes, that means American Dental Association. You can use human toothbrushes as dog toothbrushes! I would consider their size, though, as these brushes may be too big for small or toy dogs or those with flatter muzzles (pugs, pekingese).

To be transparent, there are accepted raw hide chews listed, including one of Purina Pro Plan’s. Personally, I don’t recommend many hides, due to the damage they can do to a dog’s tongue, gums, stomach, and intestines.

Fighting Dog Plaque and Tartar build-up doesn’t have to be hard.

With the right tools and aids—proper brushing and supplemental chews—you can help your dog maintain a healthy mouth between doggie dentist visits.

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