Healthy Dog for Life

Doggy Breath and Gum Disease-Has Your Dog Got it?

Tooth, gum and foul breath problems are probably the number one health issue I’ve seen over the years observing dogs. Beyond my observation, research indicates periodontal disease to be the leading precursor to just about all other diseases that can possibly ruin your dog’s life. The funny thing is, it’s the most obvious condition when you look for it, yet the least noticed by dog owners. People simply have not thought to regularly inspect inside their dogs mouth, and in most cases they just seem to accept that their dog’s smelly breath is “just the way it is”, without considering for a moment why, let alone how, it happened.

Commercial Dog Food Rots Teeth Sooooo Quickly!

Commercial canned food and grain based kibble do not clean teeth. Sludge from the food sticks to the enamel, causing bacterial growth and tartar. Over time gingivitis pockets form under the gum line, eventually leading to periodontal disease. These conditions are easy to see at a glance, as the gum line around the teeth will be inflamed and quite red in color with yellowing teeth, in place of salmon pink gums supporting bright white teeth as they should be. The gum – tooth interface will be lined with tartar buildup, instead of a clean smooth transition between gum and tooth.

Once your dogs gums are heavily encrusted and as a result sore and swollen, toxins from the bacteria will leach down under the gum line to the roots of the tooth and into the blood stream that feeds the jaw line. Once in the dog’s bloodstream, bacteria can then enter and infect organs such as the liver and kidneys, and very quickly the immune system becomes compromised, ultimately leading to disease.

By Age 3 Your Dog Is Already In Trouble

Most dogs will have bad breath at some point in their lives, due usually to consuming commercial food. By age three, 80 percent of dogs will have periodontal disease needing treatment. Vets are often nonchalant about bad teeth and see dental scaling and polishing as a normal procedure. Marketing hype over the cleaning properties of prescription kibble, dental chews and similar products are a nonsense, as the base of teeth at the gum line are untouched and the rotting process will continue from the accumulated sludge. To get at the gum line you’d literally have to brush your dog’s teeth with a technique that incorporates a gum massage. At the end of the analysis it’s very clear, just feed your dog the right diet and her teeth will take care of themselves.

Feed The Right Diet And Teeth Take Care Of Themselves

Have a good look inside your dog’s mouth; see how clean the teeth are. Take a good deep breath right in front of your dog’s nose – does it smell sweet or foul?
Your dog’s breath is the acid test to quickly determine the state of overall diet related health. If she failed the test, which means she smells a bit like being downwind of the factory that produced the commercial food you feed her, then at least you know precisely where you are, in the process of transitioning from commercial to natural food.

There are not all that many ways to accurately tell how healthy your dog is at a glance, at least from a clinical perspective, but this odor test is the most obvious. When you notice foul breath, yellow teeth with tartar buildup along the gum line and red or inflamed gums, it’s time to take action to save your dog from a dismal future. If you discover these symptoms, have your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned, and then switch their diet.

A Raw Food Diet For Dogs Will Fix Your Dog in 4 Weeks Flat

Once your dog is on a meat and bone based diet as nature intended, her teeth will be scrubbed and polished simply by eating. Her breath will freshen up and her immune system will begin to function optimally, protecting her for a longer, healthier and more fully lived life. Even if your dog is old and has been eating commercial food for years, it’s never too late to make the rest of their lives pain and disease-free, extending those years as much as possible.

About Dan

Dan has written 152 posts in this blog.

Hi, i'm Dan Scott and this blog is all about dog health and feeding your dog it's natural diet. ............................................................................................................................................................. My sole aim here is the truth about what food is best for your dog and to keep things balanced which means using common sense approaches to nutrition. ............................................................................................................................................................. Doesn't your dog deserve the same overall health, as well as the varied and passionate experience of eating natural dog food?

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