What Are Some Unique Items To Help Improve Your Dog’s Oral Health?
While the action is usually associated with cats, dogs love licking, too. It’s a simple way of cleaning and grooming themselves, and much like cats, it’s basically second nature to do so on a regular basis. Dogs also love licking their owners and other pets as a sign of affection, but this can be a problem if your dog’s breath doesn’t smell very good.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve your dog’s hygiene without having to brush its teeth yourself. These are some methods you should try out to keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
CHEW TOYS
Believe it or not, there are some chew toys that actually help with your dog’s dental hygiene. The idea stems from the fact that dogs really, really love to chew things, almost as much as they love to lick things. This natural feeling of wanting to chew an object is what makes these toys so effective. Basically, you’re taking advantage of the fact that dogs love to chew, and they can clean their teeth and maintain a healthy mouth while doing what they love.
Unfortunately, not all dogs have the same preferences when it comes to chewing. Some dogs are pickier than others, with certain dogs not preferring to chew things at all. These differences between dogs are one of the main reasons why we love them so much, but it also becomes an issue when you’re trying to keep them healthy with chew toys.
At the end of the day, it all really depends on how your dog receives the toy. They may love to chew but hate the toy itself or vice versa. It’s basically a hit-or-miss strategy, but if your dog loves the toy, then you’ve got yourself one solid way of maintaining their dental health.
DOG LICK MAT
Another interesting accessory you may want to get your dog is a dog lick mat. Dog lick mats are mats that have grooves and brittles all over them. The surface of the mat is very textured, and your dog will love to lick the mat every now and then. If you don’t think your dog will want to like the mat, you can entice them by putting a bit of yogurt, milk, or some other liquid-like substance over it. Your dog will lick it right up, and then they’ll realize how fun it is to use the mat.
Dog lick mats are actually quite beneficial to dogs. For example, they’re a great way to relieve stress for dogs as it offers a safe space for them to lick away. But in terms of oral health, it has another benefit. With all the bristles and grooves on the mat, your dog will end up cleaning their tongue in the process. The mat will remove the particles left on your dog’s mouth, and this can also remove bacteria and other unwanted substances at the same time.
While these two unique methods are certainly different from what you may be used to, it’s no secret that they actually work. If you’re able to incorporate these alternative methods of oral hygiene into your dog’s daily life, they’ll be much healthier and happier for it.