Gum disease is caused by a build-up of bacteria, food and saliva known as plaque, which forms on your pups’ teeth. The plaque is viewed as ’foreign,’ which will trigger your dog’s immune system to start fighting it off. This sparks the release of enzymes which will break down gum tissue, which can cause chronic pain and even tooth loss in dogs.
What are the first signs and symptoms of gum disease?
Unfortunately, the first symptoms of gum disease are hard to spot. When and if pet owners do notice signs of gum disease, it often means that its already advanced and is likely already causing your dog chronic pain.
Why is dental care for dogs so important?
Dental care is so important is because if unattended, it can turn into health complications in other parts of the body beyond teeth and gums. Most commonly, it turns into gingivitis with symptoms such as bad breath, swollen gums, yellow teeth. If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend seeing a vet before the disease or infection goes into the blood stream.
What is plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. Plaque develops when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are frequently left on the teeth.
Tartar is a yellow or brown coloured deposit that forms when plaque hardens on your teeth. Because tartar build-up on teeth is strongly bonded to the tooth enamel, it can only be removed by a dental professional.
What can you do to help?
Brush your pup’s teeth. This can help control the build-up of plaque which causes dental disease. However, its often a very unwelcomed experience for your dogs, and can be very challenging for dog owners.
That’s why feeding your dog hard treats and chews can be a great alternative. They encourage chewing, helping to remove the build-up of plaque on your dog’s teeth. However, these treats often don’t contain the enzymes and ingredients found in toothpaste which helps to further prevent dental disease. So, what is the solution?
Bell & Bone ’ purposeful, healthy and here to make a difference to your dog’s dental health
https://bellandbone.com.au/[Bell & Bone]’s dental sticks were developed with a vet scientist, and contain active ingredients (STPP and Zinc Sulphate) to work together to capture the calcium in the dog’s mouth. This helps to prevent and reduce up to 80% of plaque and tartar when given daily. As they are given daily, Bell & Bone made sure that their dental sticks were filled with only nutritious and heathy ingredients, such as Kangaroo, Chicken, coconut, mint, turmeric, parsley, chia and sweet potato (no nasties or fillers!). They are also a unique 3 pronged shape, which encourages dogs to get their teeth deep in the stick promoting chewing which will activate the ingredients that help prevent and remove plaque and tartar build up.
Our healthy ingredient list: Why we have chosen these superfoods for your dog.
Bell & Bone Dental Sticks come in 3 unique flavours, are grain free, Melbourne made, and packed with all-natural healthy ingredients to promote overall health and wellbeing! Each ingredient was specifically chosen for its incredible health reasons, which we’ve listed below.
● Chicken, Mint & Seaweed
- Chicken is rich in protein, good for the heart and boosts metabolism. It’s a great choice for inner health and wellbeing
- Seaweed is a superfood with high amounts of calcium, iodine, cancer preventing properties, and antibacterial properties.
● Kangaroo, Mint & Turmeric
- Kangaroo is a great source of iron and zinc for energy and a lean protein, full of vitamins and nutrients
- Turmeric is an amazing anti-inflammatory which assists muscles, bones and joints. It’s also a great natural remedy for sore gums
● Salmon, Mint and Charcoal
- Salmon is full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to help keep skin smooth and coats shiny
- Charcoal helps to alleviate bloating, gas, heartburn, stomach pains, and even bad breath for dogs.
When should you start feeding your dog Dental Sticks?
Bell & Bone recommend that you start feeding your dog dental sticks once they are 6 months old, to ensure that your pup has lost all of their baby teeth. You should be feeding your dog 1 dental stick daily (the same way humans need to be brushing their teeth at least once a day) to promote optimal oral health and hygiene. Their dental sticks come in 3 sizes, as when it comes to our pups, it’s not one-size-fits-all! Small dental sticks are for dogs under 10kg, medium are for dogs between 10-25kg, and large are for dogs greater than 25kg.
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