Something dog parents wonder about a lot is the best way to take care of their pup’s teeth. After all, it’s easy to come across conflicting advice on this matter, and hard to sort the good tips from the bad. What’s certain is that proper oral health is fundamental for a dog’s overall well-being, since poor dental health can even have negative effects on other parts of the body. Ignoring it is not an option. The good news is that raw dog food can help.
That’s right—again we can see how a nutritious diet has the power to prevent or alleviate a vast range of health issues (in a previous post we talked about relieving your pup’s joint issues with raw dog food!). So, if you’re new to the world of raw food, we say: come for the dental health benefits, stay for all the other ways this diet can help your pet feel their best.
Use meaty bones for natural plaque removal
Brushing your dog’s teeth is one way to remove plaque, but it’s not the only one. Having your dog gnaw on a raw meaty bone is a convenient and effective teeth-cleaning method that your pup will happily comply with. Not only does the chewing actively dislodge plaque from the teeth, but some believe that there are enzymes naturally present in raw food that inhibit plaque-causing bacteria.
Be sure that you give your dog a raw bone, not a cooked one, since cooking bones makes them more brittle and likely to splinter. Aside from promoting oral health, raw bones are a source of calcium, which is key for your dog’s neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and immune system.
Choose a low-carb raw dog food diet
A species-appropriate diet for dogs is low in carbohydrates, yet the carb content of kibble tends to range from 30 to 70%, usually coming from cereal grains such as barley, corn, and wheat.
Even grain-free varieties can be high in carbohydrates from other sources like legumes and root vegetables. Manufacturers use these ingredients because they’re cheaper than protein sources and the starch in them acts as a glue that holds the kibble pieces together.
When it comes to your pup’s dental health, the problem is that carbohydrates can increase the amount of sugars in the mouth. These sugars act as feed for the kinds of bacteria that cause plaque, bad breath, and eventually tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Raw dog food, which mimics the diet that dogs have evolved to eat, has a much lower percentage of carbs (if it contains carbs at all). In addition, the small percentage of carbs you may find in a raw meat blend comes from the most vitamin-rich plant food sources, i.e. fruits and veggies, instead of less nutritionally dense options such as cereal grains and potatoes.
Give your pup a microbiome boost
When we refer to the microbiome, we’re talking about the ecosystem of microorganisms that live in our bodies (and the bodies of our pets). Recent research suggests that a healthy microbiome can positively affect practically every facet of our overall health, including immune function and even mental health. And there’s reason to believe that the microbiome has important implications for non-human animals, too.
The best way to care for our microbiome is to have a healthy diet and lifestyle, which includes eating plenty of fiber, prebiotic and probiotic foods. For your pup, a raw dog food diet is ideal because it is high not only in protein, but also vitamins and minerals that would normally be denatured by the cooking process. A good diet helps create a flourishing microbiome, which has positive effects on the whole body, including the mouth and teeth.
Feed with raw dog food for extra hydration
Proper hydration is essential for your pet’s overall health, and it has special implications for their oral health. If your dog is dehydrated, they are more at risk for dry mouth, cavities, and bad breath. The problem is that, as the saying goes (and taking it quite literally): you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.
You may not be able to force your dog to chug a bowl full of water, but you can feed them raw dog food, which helps prevent dehydration thanks to its naturally high moisture content.
Final thoughts
We hope that this post has helped you understand just a few of the many benefits that raw dog food can have on your pet’s dental health and overall well-being. Since every dog is different, we recommend consulting with a vet before making any drastic changes to your pup’s diet.
If you’re starting the process of switching your dog to a raw diet, you can check out our raw guide, which provides step-by-step instructions to test for allergies and sensitivities. You can also take a look at our standards, a page that explains how our products stand out from those of other raw dog food brands.
For any other lingering questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask us.