National Dental Health Month…The Raw Truth

The American Veterinary Medical Association states that over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over 3 years of age have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease has become the number one health issue for our pets. As a result, marketing teams are using this information and pet owners are being bombarded with dental chews, tablets, sprays, etc.

Responsible pet owners are continually looking for a way to keep their pet’s teeth and gums healthy, but they are also concerned with their pet’s cleanliness and odour. Owners will try anything to tackle stinky dog breath.

Why wait for a problem to exist? Prevent dental disease in your pet today. Preventative pet care is less expensive and much more pleasant for both the dog and the owner. In order to prevent a disease, we need to understand what causes it. Two of the main causes of periodontal disease are genetics and diet. While genetics can be chosen to a degree, we are generally dealing with pets that are already in a home.

Tazz showing off his pearly whites

For pets with plaque build up, the food is sticking to their teeth. The following are options that owners have to prevent and treat periodontal disease in their pets.  

Traditional Tooth Brushing

Daily teeth brushing may help to reduce the amount of plaque build up, but occasional brushing is completely ineffective. In order to yield positive results, the pet owner must brush all of the pet’s teeth to the gum line. Remember that human toothpaste can be toxic to pets and many types of toothpaste for pets are full of synthetic ingredients and chemicals. If your pet suffers from food sensitivities and/or allergies, these products might not be the best option for them.

It also takes some training to familiarize your pet with teeth brushing. A standard toothbrush can be abrasive on the pet’s gums, causing pain and discomfort. Rubber finger brushes are a softer option. Pet toothpaste is said to contain enzymes that break down the plaque, but their effectiveness is questionable. Some owners have great success with daily tooth brushing, while others see little to no benefit.

Dental Scaling at Home

This is an option that we are not permitted to recommend. The Ontario Veterinary Act specifies that any dental care, beyond the use of a toothbrush, is considered veterinary medicine. Unfortunately, that means that scaling your pet’s teeth or hiring an anesthesia free dental hygienist is illegal in Ontario.

Professional Dental Scaling

Having your pet’s teeth scaled by a veterinarian is an extremely effective way to maintain excellent oral hygiene. This method of treatment is not without risk as it involves putting your pet under anesthetic. While the risk of complications is relatively low, I only put my dog under anesthetic for mandatory treatments. Putting an otherwise healthy dog under anesthetic for routine dental cleanings is not a risk I am willing to take. Professional dental cleaning is required if your pet is having difficulty eating because of periodontal disease or if your pet requires tooth extractions. 

Rawhide and Dental Chews

These products are relatively new to the industry and their marketing has worked on millions of trusting pet owners. Domestic Carnivore would never carry these products, nor would we recommend them. I personally believe they are dangerous and ineffective. Rawhide is a by-product of the leather industry. Yes, that means your leather boots, couch, and jackets are made from a higher quality hide than what marketers are trying to feed your dog.

Chemical agents can be used during the production of rawhide. Additionally, most rawhide products are sourced outside of North America and take weeks to fully process. This leaves time for the hide to rot and many companies then bleach the finished product to make it more appealing to pet owners.

Dental chews are also formulated with a focus on human appeal. They come in a cute shape, but are ineffective in cleaning your dog’s teeth. The texture is wax-like and the idea behind them is that the pet sinks their teeth into the chew and scrapes away the plaque. In the past, I gave these chews to my dogs and they simply crunched them. The chew lasted less than a minute and there was never an opportunity for the chew to reach the top of their teeth where the plaque builds.

These chews are typically full of synthetic extracts. Synthetic vitamins and minerals aren’t recognized by the dog’s digestive system as real food, which makes it more difficult to digest. The added stress on your pet’s digestive system and organs as they try to break down these ingredients can be detrimental to their health.

Dental Sprays and Water Additives

I have had success with one dental spray, but I am very particular with the ingredients. The product I used was called Leba III and I used it for an older dog that was new to a raw diet and wasn’t using his entire mouth to chew bones. I used it twice/day for a month and I had great results. Leba III uses two types of herbs (mints and roses) that work to stimulate the enzymes present in your dog’s saliva.

Although I have not tried other sprays or water additives, I have yet to find one with ingredients that I would be comfortable with. I’m not confident that the synthetic ingredients and chemicals are safe for my pets. In fact, many of these products have warnings such as “keep out of reach of children” and “not intended for human use”. I question what would make these products “safe” for pets, but harmful for humans.

Natural Chews (Dehydrated Treats + Antlers)

Natural chews are a good option for many dogs, but their effectiveness as a dental chew will depend on the dog. Antler chews are a dense option and while a basic antler can be a long lasting chew, it can lead to broken teeth for an aggressive chewer. Split antlers are a much safer option as the dog can scrape out the marrow without trying to break the antler.

Tazz enjoys his splits elk antlers

Dehydrated chews are safe for all dogs and will help to reduce plaque in small dogs or delicate chewers. Duck feet, chicken feet, and oxtail tips are the most popular dehydrated chews, but due to their size, they are a quick snack for medium and large sized dogs.

Treats like pizzles and pig snouts are healthy options, but they will not scrape your pet’s teeth. They still offer great variety in their diet and your pet will love them.

Natural Tooth Brushing

Those of us who feed a balanced raw diet have likely noticed the dental benefits. A pre-made or ground raw diet doesn’t stick to the teeth the way processed kibble does and raw meaty bones help to eliminate the little bit of plaque that does build. How does Mother Nature take care of your dog’s oral health? First, the dog tears the meat off of the bone using their canine teeth and incisors. As they bite down and gnaw, their teeth scrape against the bone and remove any plaque build up. Dogs then use their molars and pre-molars to crunch the bones, providing a cleaning for their entire dentition. 

Choosing the Right Bones

Large Dogs

Larger dogs require larger bones. I would consider any dog over 50lbs to be a large dog. Beef neck bones, turkey necks, duck frames, and whole rabbit are excellent, fully consumable options for large dogs. Due to their density, recreational bones, like beef marrow bones should only be given to light chewers. Aggressive chewers can break their teeth on weight bearing bones of large herbivores. 

Medium Dogs

Medium sized dogs can enjoy any of the bones mentioned above as well as duck necks, lamb shanks, and goat necks.

Cats/Small Dogs

Small dogs and cats are the perfect size to enjoy just about any raw meaty bone you can find. Chicken backs, chicken necks, duck feet, chicken feet, elk ribs, and duck wings are all great options for a small carnivore. However, a larger meal like a beef neck bone or whole rabbit will give them a better dental workout.

It’s important for dogs and cats to have variety in their diet, so don’t limit them to only one type of raw meaty bone. Depending on the dog’s eating habits, a larger dog may be able to safely eat smaller bones. Many large and giant breed dogs do well with chicken backs and necks. The determining factor will be if they chew the food or if they try to inhale it.

Important Notes for Feeding Bones:

• Dogs can choke on anything (including kibble), so please monitor your pet while they enjoy bones and chews.
• Bones should never be cooked as this makes them brittle and indigestible.
• It is best to freeze any raw meat for a minimum of 3 days. Meat can contain parasites that are killed by freezing the meat for 48-72 hours. Bones are best served thawed, but they should go through a period of freezing prior to defrosting.

Conclusion

Properly caring for your pet’s teeth and gums will help to reduce the risk of diseases associated with poor oral hygiene. Along with periodontal disease, there are also studies showing a correlation between gum disease and heart disease.

As loving pet owners, we want our pets to have the best quality of life and that means keeping them happy and healthy. Visit your vet if you notice anything abnormal such as a growth, discoloured gums, loose or chipped teeth, or if your pet appears to have dental pain.

In our experience as pet owners, the most effective choice in preventing dental disease is a raw diet. Raw meaty bones are a safe and effective way to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Domestic Carnivore will take the time to understand your pet’s needs so we can recommend an appropriate option for them. Keeping your pets happy and healthy is our passion.

Never compromise the health of your pet by falling for cleaver marketing plans. Research everything and expose yourself to differing opinions. Once you are armed with as much knowledge as possible, develop your own opinion, and be your pet’s advocate.

Remember to smile and enjoy the time you have with your pet

The Truth on Raw Meaty Bones - Beef Feature

The Truth on Raw Meaty Bones

Raw, meaty bones are a recommended part of a balanced, species appropriate diet. Raw, meaty bones are our dog and cat’s natural toothbrushes. The action of tearing, crunching, and ripping off the meat cleans their teeth and provides mental stimulation.

The type of bones and how they are fed depends on the size of the animal and their chewing style. For example, a 5lb dog or cat would do great with a chicken neck or back, but a turkey neck would be more than 10 days worth of food. At the same time, an 80lb dog may try to swallow small food, such as chicken backs and necks, whole. This would eliminate the chewing benefit and could create a choking hazard.

Each month, we will feature a different protein source on our blog. Protein rotation is an important part of a raw diet and we will provide an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of each protein source.

Protein Feature: Beef

Beef is an excellent, nutrient dense protein source to include in your pet’s diet. This meat provides a good source for protein, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and B-complex vitamins. Beef is a rich meat option so it is best to introduce beef once the dog or cat is already transitioned onto raw chicken or turkey. Beef bones are typically too big for cats or small dogs, but they are a great chew for medium to large size dogs. The size of your dog will determine the best size and cut of beef bones to offer them. It is also important to understand the chewing behaviour of your pet. Weight bearing bones of large animals, such as cows, may not be the best option for aggressive chewers.

Many raw feeders are familiar with beef tripe, not only for its smell, but also for its nutritional benefit. Green beef tripe is loaded with probiotics and digestive enzymes making it a healthy addition to any raw diet. Tripe is also low in phosphorus, high in fiber, and a good source of omega fatty acids. The smell of green tripe can clear a room, but your dog will love it! When shopping for tripe, don’t be confused with the white tripe you find in grocery stores. This form of tripe is bleached and lacks the nutritional benefits of green tripe.

A breakdown of each raw, meaty bone and its benefits:

Tripesicles (Beef tripe stuffed trachea)

Trachea is a great source of glucosamine and chondriotin and provides a great chew for dogs and cats. Green tripe is rich in probiotics and great tasting (for dogs), making tripesicles one of the most nutritious and enjoyable treats for pets. Due to the smell of green tripe, this meal is best served frozen and outside.

Beef Marrow Bones

Weight-bearing bones of large animals can be very dangerous and are not a good choice for most dogs. Weight-bearing bones are typically called marrow bones, soup bones, femur bones, and dino bones. They can also be found attached to knuckle bones or knee caps. The density of these bones is what makes them a poor choice for most aggressive chewers. Weight-bearing bones of large herbivores, such as cows, are designed to hold up 1,000lbs+ of weight for prolonged periods of time. The concern with these bones is that the bone is stronger than your dog’s teeth. These bones are known to break teeth and the large amount of marrow can cause diarrhea. Weight bearing bones are not something that we personally recommend, but we do suggest that you monitor a dog with any bone. If your dog is gnawing on the bone, it may not be the best chew for them.

Beef Neck Bones

Beef neck bones are a great recreational chew or meal for dogs of all sizes. We proudly carry Tollden Farms beef neck bones, which offer very meaty bones and a variety of sizes. The small size are suitable for most dogs, while the medium and large sizes are better suited to larger dogs. The bones are much softer than weight bearing bones, making them fully consumable. If you have a dog that will try to swallow a large chunk, it is best to feed larger pieces and take them away before your dog eats the last piece.

NEVER COOK A RAW BONE.

ALWAYS SUPERVISE YOUR PET WHILE THEY ARE EATING.