For February Dog/Cat Dental Health Month, just as it is very important to keep our teeth, gums and mouth healthy, it also is important as animal parents and caregivers to make sure our dogs and cats have healthy teeth and gums.
Until recently, dental health in cats and dogs was often a neglected aspect of home pet care. If dogs’ and cats’ teeth develop tartar, it can result in our animal companions suffering from gum inflammation or gingivitis or serious periodontal disease. Not only do affected pets develop nauseating halitosis, or bad breath, but eating can become very painful. Severe oral inflammation in our pets’ mouths can result in the spread of bacteria into their blood streams and can subsequently travel to the heart, kidneys, pancreas, liver and other internal organs.
Recommendations for Maintaining Good Oral Health
Add a few drops of fish oil in your pet companion’s food every day to help reduce gum inflammation. Feeding your pet a healthy diet and supplementing with a probiotic is very important in maintaining overall health, good teeth and a strong immune system.- Provide your dog or cat with safe chew toys to help maintain healthy gums. Safe chew toys include organic rubber toys (most plastics contain toxic phthalates), knotted cotton ropes, organic U.S. certified rawhide strips and raw beef marrow bones. Some dogs chew too hard on the bones which can damage teeth so only allow short 5-10 minutes of chewing per day.
- Brush your dog’s or cat’s teeth daily. To get your companion used to teeth cleaning wrap a moist gauze bandage around your index finger and gently massage and rub their gums. There are a number of pet-safe toothpastes on the market to choose from or you can make a homemade toothpaste. (See sidebar for recipe.)
- Have your pet’s teeth and mouth examined during routine veterinary examinations.
- Apply a combination of pure therapeutic grade myrrh and helichrysum essential oils to your pets daily if they have dental disease. Essential oils can help maintain a strong immune system, fight bacteria and reduce pain.
DIY Pet Toothpaste
Ingredients
- 1 bouillon cube (low sodium)
- 1 Tbsp. water
- 2 Tbsp. baking soda
- 1 drop therapeutic grade myrrh essential oil
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
Dissolve the boullion cube in the water in a mixing bowl. Add the baking soda and myrrh essential oil to the bouillon and stir. Next add the coconut oil to the mixing bowl and work the other ingredients into it. Continue stirring until the mixture is even. Place in a container with a lid and store at room temperature.
The boullion makes the toothpaste tasty to your pet. Baking soda is an abrasive that helps to remove plaque. Myrrh essential oil is antiseptic and will help to kill bacteria, and has been found to support the gums and will make your dog’s breath smell a whole lot friendlier. Coconut oil holds the other ingredients together and is safe and healthy for your dog or cat to eat.