Pet Dental Health Month

February is Pet Dental Health month.

Pet Dental Health month was created by the American Veterinary Medical Association to highlight how important oral health is to the overall health, wellbeing and happiness of your pets.

Now its time to get a little bit controversial and shed some light on the 'Nation's favourite' dental chew for dogs.

Dentastix.

There's a reason you won't find them on our shelves, and we will gladly tell you why. After all an informed decision is always best.

First up, lets take a look at the ingredients:

Cereals, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin, Minerals (including Sodium Tripolyphosphate 2.8%), Meat and Animal Derivatives, Oils and Fats.

This is all very vague and it means that the manufacturers are able to change the ingredients from batch to batch without needing to change their labelling. This is particularly bad if you have a dog with intolerances or allergies as you'll never really know whats being used in the recipe.

Sodium Tripolyphosphate is an ingredient commonly used in household cleaners and washing detergents, it is also used in certain dog foods as a preservative and to help moist foods to retain moisture so that they appear fresher for longer. Although Sodium Tripolyphosphate is generally considered safe, it has been listed by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as a possible neurotoxin and is widely recognised as a mild skin irritant. We therefor recommend steering clear of foods containing this as an ingredient, especially for dogs that are prone to skin issues.

Given all of this information we have made the choice not to stock these products, but that's not to say that we don't have better alternatives.

Of course brushing your dog's teeth daily is the best recommendation, but there are other alternatives to help keep your dog's mouth in tip top condition.

VetIQ Denta-care granules

A careful blend of natural ingredients that is added to your pets food daily to help freshen their breath and reduce oral bacteria. This product contains Peppermint, Parsley Seed Oil and Pomegranate extract to help reduce dental plaque and tartar. It also has the added benefit of aiding immunity and promoting collagen formation in the gums.

Key Benefits:

Seaweed - Helps normal salivary gland function and reduces oral bacteria

Parsley Seed Oil - Antibacterial to reduce oral bacteria

Peppermint oil - To help freshen breath

Pomegranate extract - Helps reduce dental plaque

Suitable for cats and dogs.

Edgard Cooper Doggy Dental

A healthier alternative to Dentastix if your dog is used to getting their daily chew. These sticks are made with all natural ingredients and are plant based and grain free. This makes them great for dogs with sensitive tummies, or those on a restricited calorie diet.

Key Benefits:

Air dried - Plaque can be stubborn so these chews are air dried to provide a longer chewing time, and in turn a deeper more effective clean for your dogs teeth.

Calcium - Strong teeth are healthy teeth, so these sticks contain added calcium to help keep your dog's teeth strong.

Eucalyptus - Added to help keep breath fresh.

Raw bones and treats

Feeding raw bones and meaty treats can provide great jaw exercise, its naturally cleaning for the surface of the teeth and also provides great mental stimulation for your pets. We have a range of raw chews in our Nature's Menu freezer to suit all sizes of pets from cats all the way up to Great Danes.

All of the chews in our freezers are tested for the presence of bacteria like Salmonella before packaging so you can be sure that they are safe, as long as the guidance is followed once you get home. Please speak to a member of the team to find the right sized chew for your pet.

Natural dried treats

We have a wide range of air dried treats in our Bertie's Deli section that can be used as part of a teeth cleaning routine to keep teeth and gums strong and healthy. Treats like chewy tendons can act as dental floss whilst chewing to clean between the teeth and gums.

We also stock Himalayan Yak chews, which are long lasting and rich in calcium. Suitable for dogs over 4 months these chews help to reduce plaque and tartar on the teeth.

If you'd like more help or information regarding how you can help to keep your pets teeth nice and sparkly clean please pop in and speak to a member of the team.

Our in house dog groomer Katie at The Hound Bar is also offering half price teeth cleaning with every full grooming session booked this month, if you'd like to book in please contact Katie directly, 07939083848.