Dental Control Deception

I know I’m not telling you anything new by saying pet owners want their dogs (or cats) to live a long and healthy life.

A large part of your pet’s healthy lifestyle relies on dental hygiene.

That’s it, just stick your hand in there and start cleaning.. Simple!

Manufacturers realize this, and as a result, there are dozens upon dozens of dental control products on the market – most of which aren’t worth consideration.

Here’s why.

By the numbers

Your dog should have 42 teeth in his mouth. Your dog actively chews with less than half of these.

Like humans, dogs have a dominant side of their mouth for chewing. Also like humans, dogs do the vast majority of their chewing with their “power teeth” – the premolars at the back of the mouth.

While dental bones, food, toys and treats may provide some benefit to those few teeth – these products are not total dental solutions, although creative marketing wants you to believe otherwise.

People will pay more for products under the expectation they will provide a significant benefit above and beyond traditional pet foods and treats.

Product Quality & Cost

By claiming their dental control dog food will clean your dog’s teeth, manufacturers know pet owners will pay more for it. I wouldn’t have an issue with this if the product quality wasn’t sacrificed somewhat in the process.

Have you ever noticed there are very few Super Premium (aka Human-Grade) dental control pet foods on the market? Why is that?

If these dental control foods actually worked, wouldn’t every manufacturer make them? Maybe the makers of top-tier (quality) pet foods don’t bother because they don’t want to lessen the quality of their product, or maybe they realize the whole notion of oral care formulas are mostly a marketing tool.

If you look at the best selling dental control dog foods on the market, you will find formulas that consist mostly of feed-grade ingredients, fractions and fillers.

Why don’t these manufacturers make the same product, but with human-grade, wholesome ingredients? Why do these low-quality products cost just as much (or more) than foods made entirely out of human-grade ingredients?

People will pay more for products under the expectation they will provide a significant benefit above and beyond traditional pet foods and treats.

You have options

I want to make sure I’m clear about this – I’m not saying these dental control products are not worth feeding. I’m not even saying they are bad products. The point of this article is to help consumers understand that these products alone will not rid your dog of tartar – you have to consider your options.

Brush your dog’s teeth.

This will only have an impact if you are consistent. I can’t tell you how often I talk to clients who (in the beginning) commit to brushing their dog’s teeth every day. I will speak to these same clients weeks or months later and they’re lucky if they fit in one brushing a week and wonder why their dogs teeth show no improvement.

Is a solution the solution?

There are many supplemental products on the market for dental health – some work better than others. Usually found in liquid and powder forms, these products are either added to your pet’s drinking water, or administered directly into the mouth.

A product I’ve had great success with is Leba III. This is a simple solution you spray into a dog’s mouth. When used consistently, Leba III will actively break down tartar and clean your dog’s teeth safely and effectively.

Other considerations:

Raw chicken and turkey necks are great teeth cleaners for those who embrace the raw lifestyle.

Bones, biscuits and treats – really anything hard and/or crunchy will make some level of impact on tartar levels.

Your Veterinarian can also clean your dogs teeth. They will do a great job – usually at considerable cost. What concerns me the most about this procedure is the use of anesthetic for just teeth cleaning – I feel it’s unnecessary to subject a dog to this solely for a dental cleaning.

Fact: Sharks love to have their teeth brushed – with humans.

That’s all well and good – what should I do, then?

My advice is to feed whatever pet food you’re happy with – quality, price, brand, etc. – regardless of a dental control label. Feed the same bones, treats and toys your dog loves because it will all help.

If you’re feeding your dog a dental control food, and you’re happy with it, great – I’m not saying you should switch – I’m suggesting you make the best informed decisions you can to ensure your pets live their best life possible.

Whatever decision you make for your pet’s dental health, just make sure you understand the products well, and stay consistent.

photo credit: Thruhike98

photo credit: doobybrain