Beware of gum disease
Unlike humans, dogs hardly ever get tooth decay. They are more prone to tartar, which leads to gum disease and inflammation. An adult dog has 42 teeth. No matter how big or small the breed, they all need something to chew with! It soon becomes clear that space is tight in smaller mouths. That is precisely what causes a significant limitation: the lack of space between teeth. So, if misalignments and space problems are present from birth, natural cleaning will not be enough. They must be cleaned, otherwise severe gum disease and tartar will appear after only a few years. Once this happens, the tooth has to be extracted under anaesthesia and the dog has one less chewing tool.
Unfortunately, many small breeds often need to have a number of teeth extracted as they get older. Even with regular cleaning and dog chews, genetic disposition is unfortunately working against all efforts.
The right food for dental problems
It benefits us that our pets do not have to hunt for their food like wolves, but can find portioned morsels in their bowls. Dogs that no longer have teeth can still eat wet food without any problems. They can simply mash the food against the roof of their mouths. It does not need to be chewed for our furry friends to digest it.
Anyone who has a Labrador or a similarly voracious dog at home knows this only too well. Even if teeth are present, they often gobble the food down so quickly that it barely comes into contact with their teeth, let alone chewed. If a dog that no longer has teeth refuses wet food, it can be fed dry food. Stomach acid is strong enough to digest even unchewed food.
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