Dog Toothpaste
Taking care of your dog’s mouth is very important in maintaining your canine’s overall health. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly helps to prevent periodontal disease which can even contribute to problems in your dog’s organs down the road. Now that you understand how important it is to keep your dog’s teeth clean, let’s talk about dog toothpaste. Does it seem excessive to need to purchase toothpaste for dogs?
Is Toothpaste for Dogs Really Necessary?
Do you need to buy toothpaste for dogs? The quick answer is yes. Now that it has been established that you need to brush your dog’s teeth, you need a paste to use. However, you CAN NOT use regular human toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth. This is because there are several ingredients found in human toothpaste that are toxic to dogs.
For example, almost all human toothpaste contains fluoride to help prevent cavities. No pet toothpaste should contain fluoride because it is toxic to dogs. Xylitol is the other main problem. Found in human toothpaste, xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and is never used in pet toothpaste.
Pet toothpaste also leaves out foaming agents that are found in human toothpaste, as it helps to keep the dog from accidentally swallowing the paste. The ingredient that makes foaming occur is called sodium lauryl sulfate and can cause stomach upset in dogs. It should never be an ingredient in dog toothpaste.
Are All Dog Toothpastes the Same?
According to Whole Dog Journal, dog toothpaste should either be labeled as helping to control tartar or helping to control plaque. However, they are only proven to do so if they are stamped with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) Seal.
Every dog toothpaste should contain a necessary abrasive ingredient such as one of the following: baking soda, calcium carbonate, salt, silica, or dicalcium phosphate. Antimicrobial agents in dog toothpaste help to kill bacteria in your dog’s mouth before they become tartar.
Also, toothpaste for dogs doesn’t taste like mint because dogs don’t particularly enjoy the taste of it. Pet companies make dog toothpaste with more dog-friendly flavors such as meat or peanut butter.
What If My Dog Won’t Let Me Brush Its Teeth?
Getting your dog used to teeth brushing when they are a puppy is ideal. Your older dog may be reluctant to let you start doing it now. Give it some time and practice when it comes to brushing your dog’s teeth. If your dog is refusing to let you for now, just try to get a little bit of the dog toothpaste into your dog’s mouth anyway. Using a washcloth, just introduce a bit of antibacterial toothpaste around a couple of your dog’s teeth at a time. This is better than doing nothing at all.