Dental health plays an important role in your pet’s overall health and wellbeing, but for more than 80% of dogs, by the time they are an adult, they will have already developed dental disease. What starts as the gradual build-up of plaque on their young teeth, can in time develop into a tartar, gingivitis and if left unchecked develop into discomfort, bleeding, and in advanced cases, it can lead to systemic health such as heart, liver, and kidney problems. Prevention is always better than a cure and for pet parents of a new puppy, well, there is no better time to start looking after your dog’s teeth than when you first bring your new pup home.
LET’S TALK PUPPY TEETH:
Born initially without any visible teeth, a total of 28 baby teeth will start to erupt at about two to three weeks of age, when a puppy starts to be interested in solid foods, and are usually all completely in by about eight to ten weeks. These deciduous milk teeth are notably sharp, pointy, and brittle teeth that many pet parents will agree can wreak havoc on not just your shoes and bags left around the house, but your hands and fingers too during playtime.
From around 16 weeks of age, these 28 baby teeth are gradually replaced with 42 adult permanent canine teeth which should all be in place by the time the puppy is about 6 to 7 months old. For most pet parents, they may never see the baby teeth fall out, but all shall testify that during this phase, their puppy is actively seeking out items to chew as a way of relieving their discomfort.
GIVING YOUR PUPPY THE HEAD START IN DENTAL HEALTH:
Daily care is an essential process to raising a healthy puppy. Not only does it let pet parents support his overall health and wellbeing, but it also introduces him to being handled and cared for in preparation for future physical examinations and treatments as he ages. When it comes to specifically supporting his dental health, pet parents should firstly get their new pup used to his mouth being gently opened and then introduce a basic toothbrushing technique by gently running a finger along his gums and teeth. As the pup grows, this experience of having his mouth handled will help him stay calm when a finger brush and then eventually a toothbrush are used to support the daily cleaning of his teeth.
CARING FOR YOUR PUPPY’S TEETH:
Puppies, just like babies, have different dental needs from adult dogs but it is never too early to start supporting your pup’s teeth with daily dental care. Choosing a high-quality dental care product tailored to their age can be one of the best ways to help keep dental disease at bay for your pup and, while toothbrushing will always remain the gold standard dental care, finding an additional dental chew is a great option to let a puppy not only clean their own teeth but also alleviate their teething discomfort during these first few months of their life. Dental chews deliver a dental benefit while a puppy eats their dental treat, the chewing action delivers a mechanical abrasion by gently scraping the plaque and tartar buildup off their teeth with every bite that then also promotes gum health and a fresh breath. Think of it like the same action that a toothbrush does when you brush your own teeth! With less plaque and tartar buildup now present on your puppy’s teeth, the cycle of dental disease progression is dramatically slowed all while they enjoy a tasty reward.
WHIMZEES PUPPY DENTAL TREATS
With not many dental chews are available for puppies from 3 months of age, WHIMZEES® Puppy Dental Treats are one of the best options to help keep your puppy’s dental health in check. These beneficial dental rewards are designed to help remove plaque and tartar buildup as a puppy chews to his heart’s content. Scientifically crafted for puppies from 3 months of age, these treats are designed to support not only their permanent teeth as they begin erupting but also help clean their milk teeth due to a softer texture than the adult WHIMZEES®, which are recommended from 9 months of age once all their permanent teeth are through. Crafted with 100% natural ingredients, these dental treats deliver an extended cleaning time but are also gentle on stomachs with a recipe that is grain-free, meat-free, and gluten-free making them suitable to keep all puppy’s teeth clean, even the sensitive ones! Available in two shapes that a pup will love and two sizes to match their breed size needs, WHIMZEES® Puppy makes for the best reward for your little sidekick and one that will start him on his journey of dental health for a lifetime of wellbeing.