Submitted by ahna on
By: Dr. Amy Plankenhorn and Dr. Dave Thompson
You or I may try to chew carefully when we chew on a hard object such as ice or olives or cherries that may have pits. There is no evidence that dogs are careful. Also, dog enamel is only 1/3 as thick as human enamel and the chewing force of a dog is measured at 3 times more than a human can achieve.
Most dogs love to chew. Chewing provides entertainment, and slightly decreases tarter formation (daily tooth brushing is much more effective). Many popular chew toys such as bones, antlers, cow hooves, hard plastic chews, and even ice cubes can crack dogs’ teeth. The most common teeth to be fractured are the large upper premolars, also called the carnassial teeth. These major 3-rooted teeth bear the brunt of the chewing force. When a dog chews an object that is harder than his/her tooth enamel, the tooth often splits vertically, causing what’s called a slab fracture of the tooth. The best case scenario is that only the enamel is damaged, but the rough enamel surface collects more tartar and the damaged enamel is more vulnerable to pain and infection. Unfortunately, a carnassial tooth fracture commonly involves the pulp canal of the tooth, causing pain and allowing bacteria direct access to the root of the tooth and the bone that surrounds it. An abscess frequently forms. Surprisingly, dogs seldom indicate that they have a toothache or that a tooth is abscessed, so you usually don’t know anything is wrong until the infection is very advanced.
While not all tooth fractures can be prevented – your dog may pick up and chew a hard object without you realizing it - we can definitely help make them less likely. When choosing chew toys, consider the following:
Rules of Thumb
- Do NOT allow your pet to chew on anything unless it has some “give” to it because that might prevent breaking a tooth. You should actually be able to indent the surface with your fingernail. Among other things, give no animal bones, no antlers, no hooves and no hard plastic or hard nylon bones. If an object is harder than a tooth, or if you could drive a nail with it, it’s too hard.
- RAWHIDE – We do not believe that we have ever seen a tooth fracture caused by rawhide, so they are a good choice for the teeth. With rawhide chews there is the slight possibility that your pet could choke on the chew, so we recommend that you be present to supervise when your pet is chewing. For small dogs, you can cut thinner strips from the rawhide “chips” which really seems to increase their enjoyment of the chew. Due to some problems with imports, we recommend that you “play it safe” and only use rawhide from cows originating in the USA. Be careful and read the fine print. It is important for the chews to be manufactured in the US, not just distributed by a US company.
- CHEW TOYS and BALLS – All toys should have some flexibility such as the soft Nylabone (do not use the rigid Nylabone), appropriate size Kongs, latex and rope toys, and latex balls. Tennis balls can cause dental problems because the fuzz on tennis balls can wear down enamel if chewed excessively. For that reason, tennis balls are best for chasing rather than chewing but older balls without the “fuzz” on the surface are less prone to wear down enamel. Avoid giving dogs any balls that are small enough to swallow.
- STUFFED TOYS – May or may not help with tooth cleansing but are often referred to as a “comfort” toy to be carried and slept with. Always avoid toys with attached hard objects such as plastic eyes, clothing articles, a nose, etc. that could break teeth.
VOHC approved products
Although not all safe products have VOHC approval, using products with the VOHC seal of acceptance is recommended as these products have successfully met pre-set requirements for veterinary dental efficacy. A complete list of VOHC approved products can be accessed at www.vohc.org.
Comments
Kathy Zeller replied on Permalink
VOHC
I am truly appalled that VOHC would approve and encourage people to use "greenies". The number of health issues and pet deaths attributed to these chews is frightening. Makes me wonder about the veracity of their site.
ahna replied on Permalink
Greenies
We have never sold Greenies Chews because simply brushing a dog's teeth is more effective and costs very little. In researching to respond to you, I found a posting by a veterinary toxicologist who stated that Greenies are not toxic. Another specialist stated that after the initial concerns years ago about choking etc., they reformulated them so that they will dissolve when in contact with moisture/water. She then stated that they essentially turn to a sludge. The VOHC, (veterinary oral health council) lists products that have met their criteria for plaque and tartar reduction/prevention but it is my understanding that VOHC is not an organization that tests products for safety from toxins or a choking hazard. Dentists simply are not qualified to investigate those problems. The VOHC provides a valuable service because there are no laws or regulations about effectiveness of non-prescription oral health products. The VOHC provides a voluntary option for the manufacturer, through VOHC supervision and testing criteria, to prove their product is effective rather than the public just having to take the word of the manufacturer. Fortunately, we have no firsthand knowledge of problems caused by Greenies, and I am not aware of our clients or patients having confirmed problems with them. We do stay abreast of all recalls and pay membership for a network of veterinarians and veterinary specialists so that we can research concerns such as yours and so that we can be proactive in notifying our clients of recalls or potential problems. One of the reasons that we try to keep client's emails current is so that we can warn clients if we become aware that there is a local disease outbreak or malicious pet poisonings in a neighborhood or pet thefts in a community or some other threat to our patients.
Dr. Dave Thompson
pat polanksy replied on Permalink
Thanks for this article about
Thanks for this article about chewies. I found it most helpful as I've been giving my dogs the wrong kinds.
Tracey replied on Permalink
Raw hide chews
I'm shocked that raw hides would be recommended as a good chew option for dogs. I would never give one to my dogs and they should not be promoted to sale. To find more info, simply watch a youtube video on how they are produced. Nothing but chemicals. No thank you!
ahna replied on Permalink
Wholesome Hides
We share your concern and feel that it is important to be very careful about buying rawhide chews because some are toxic to pets. At AHNA, we sell Wholesome Hides rawhide chews that are manufactured entirely in the United States from the hides of cattle that lived in the United States. Please see our blog for additional information and an article from The Whole Dog Journal titled “Safe, natural chews are hard to find, but they do exist”: https://www.ahna.net/blog/Be-Careful-when-Purchasing-Raw-Hide-Chews.
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