Dental health diets for dogs

Oral disease is one of the most common diseases found in dogs.[1][2] It is caused by the buildup of various anaerobic bacteria in the mouth which forms plaque, eventually hardening into tartar on the teeth along the gum line, and is related to the development of gingivitis.[3] Since small and toy breeds have a much smaller jaw but contain the same number of teeth, crowding allows higher bacterial build up and puts them at higher risk of developing periodontal disease.[4]

Although daily brushing provides the best preventative measure, feeding a dental diet or using dental chews for dogs is an effective approach pet owners can take to help prevent and control accumulation of plaque and tartar to avoid consequences of severe periodontal disease.[2] Dental diets consider many aspects of oral health such as inflammation, bone health and physical and chemical characteristics of the kibble when being formulated. Some diets, chews and/or other oral products may also strive to receive approval by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) for validation of their product's claims.

  1. ^ Harvey, C.E. (1998). "Periodontal disease in dogs: etiopathogenesis, prevalence, and Significance". Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 28 (5): 1111–1112. doi:10.1016/s0195-5616(98)50105-2. PMID 9779543.
  2. ^ a b Logan, E.I. (2006). "Dietary Influences on Periodontal Health in Dogs and Cats". Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 36 (6): 1385–1401. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.09.002. PMID 17085242.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Logan 18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Kyllar, M.; Doskarova, B.; Palar, V. (2013). "Morphometric assessment of periodontal tissues in relation to periodontal disease in dogs". Journal of Veterinary Dentistry. 30 (3): 146–149. doi:10.1177/089875641303000302. PMID 24371921. S2CID 36527559.