At Home Dental Care Must Haves'

It's Dental Month here at Just About Pets!!

In today's Blog we have listed our Top 5 Dental care & Health must haves' that we carry in our store!!

Dental Chews and Treats

Dog food and treats frequently boast their beneficial dental qualities.

Tossing your pup a dental-cleansing treat is certainly easier than convincing him to let you brush his teeth!

​But when it comes to dental benefits, not all claims are created equal, Here are Some of our favorite dental chews and treats that we’ve got instore!

Smaller dogs, or breeds with a crowded or stacked bite, are more likely to have "hiding spots" in the mouth.

This means that no matter how long or hard he chews, some areas in his mouth just can't be reached, so plaque will develop. And while chewing will help with the surface of the teeth, it doesn't get under the gum lines like the bristles of a toothbrush. (transition to teeth brushing)

Toothbrush with Oral Gel / Spray

If your dog can brush his own teeth, you can stop reading this article and start posting the video to YouTube.

For the rest of us, we have to use a canine toothbrush and a little strategy. The best brush to use is double-headed with the brushes at a 45 degree angle to clean below the gumline, like those offered in our store.

Start early with your dog as a puppy!

Grown dogs can learn to become comfortable with dog teeth cleaning, but make things easier for yourself by working with your dog as a puppy.

How to pick the right tooth paste for your dog

This is very important. Do NOT use regular human toothpaste for your dog. Most human toothpastes include fluoride, which is extremely poisonous to dogs.

Instead We’ve got.. “Just About Pets” All Natural, Essential Oil tooth paste for your furry friend! 🌿 Made with pure Aloe Vera Gel, and the essential oils of Lemon, Fennel, Rose and Clove. (Recommended for daily use) Our Oral Gel Removes debris and bacteria from the mouth and leaves your pets smile looking good AND smelling good! 🐶❤️ - in store for $13.99 🐾

Raw Bones

​Raw Bones Are Not Dangerous

We have been told so often that bones can splinter and cause internal damage that it is hard to embrace the fact that bones are safe when given raw. Cooking a bone can cause it to become brittle and splinter, but raw bones are pliable and resilient, breaking off without sharp edges. Poultry bones are soft enough to be completely chewed up and digested.

Harder bones, such as beef, lamb, or buffalo are considered recreational bones and are mainly for chewing, not eating. They have marrow, gristle, and connective tissue that contribute valuable nutrients and roughage.

Raw Bones Are Nature’s Toothbrushes

Dogs raised on raw bones have clean, white teeth that never need scaling, while those raised on commercial food alone frequently develop tartar, gum disease, infected mouths, and bad breath. Despite food companies’ claim to the contrary, dry kibble does not clean teeth!

Raw bones act like floss in the mouth, polishing and scraping away tartar as the animal crunches and gnaws. In addition, raw meat creates a somewhat acidic oral environment to retard plaque formation and freshen your pet’s breath.

Raw Bones Provide the Perfect Mineral Balance

A prey animal’s bones contain minerals in the proper balance for a carnivore’s growth and development. For eons, Nature’s plan was that wild canines and felines obtain needed calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and other minerals from consuming the bones of their prey, and that is still the preferred source.

Bones contain the proper mineral balance, eliminating concern about over-supplementing any single mineral. If your dog consumes more bones than he needs, the excess is excreted in the stool. Don’t be surprised by some chalky, crumbly stools — this is normal.

The Nutritional Value of Raw Bones

Besides contributing calcium and other minerals, raw bony parts provide essential fatty acids (poultry is higher than beef or lamb), fat-soluble vitamins, blood-forming factors found in the marrow, including iron and copper, cartilage and collagen (arthritis preventing), proteins and valuable amino acids, especially lysine. Poultry necks and wings also contain natural glucosamine.

Meaty bones can constitute an entire meal, keeping in mind that vegetables and other foods should be consumed at other times.

Plaque Off Powder

As in humans, plaque bacteria constantly form in the mouth of all cats and dogs.

​Once plaque has calcified into tartar it can no longer be brushed off with a toothbrush. In many cases it has to be removed by a vet, using ultrasound and anaesthetic.

To keep up with daily cleaning, try Plaque Off! ​The active ingredient is a specially selected alga, Ascophyllum nodosum, harvested along the North Atlantic coast. The 100% all natural product.

Plaque Off Powder is free from additives and artificial preservatives and contains no gluten or added sugar

Plaque Off is a  dietary supplement, suitable for both cats and dogs, which can help reduce plaque and tartar. A completely natural product, made from specially selected Norwegian Seaweed

Bully Sticks

Bully sticks are easily digestible, unlike some other chews or treats.

The beef hide in rawhide, for example, can be difficult to digest for some dogs.

Bully sticks, on the other hand, are highly digestible, which means that they break down easily in your dog’s stomach.

They also don’t splinter like other treats, so you don’t have to worry about broken off pieces causing any internal injuries.
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In addition to their high digestibility, bully sticks are a tasty, single-ingredient treat!
Only made from high-protein beef muscle, bully sticks are ideal for your dog.
Beef is a complete source of amino acids, which support your dog’s muscles, brain, skin, and coat.
If your dog has any allergy or sensitivity, bully sticks are a great chew option, as they are free from artificial chemicals, additives, and preservatives.

Read the signs your pet may need a dental visit