Want the Truth (I Mean Tooth) About Your Cavapoo’s Teeth?

Good teeth are a powerful indicator of good health. 

Veterinarians, livestock owners, and animal lovers are astutely aware of the role that good oral hygiene plays in the overall health of animals.

Cattlemen will look at the teeth of a horse they’re considering buying before dolling out the cash. They do this to determine the age of the horse but also to detect any problems that may hinder the horse’s performance.

Why, even our medical doctors warn us of the impact that our teeth can have on other areas of the body. Bad teeth can indicate heart issues or even lead to neurological problems like memory loss! 

What am I leading up to?

Simply this.

As Cavapoo owners, we must ensure that our precious pets are enjoying good oral health.

Plaque, tartar buildup, cavities, bad breath that rivals the stinky odor given off by a paper mill (the thousand-dollar word is halitosis), gum disease, tooth loss. 

These are potential problems that can arise in the mouth of your furry loved one. 

We may think that these are simple issues that can be corrected easily. 

And they can be-if we catch them early. 

However, if we allow them to persist, they can grow into major medical trouble for our dogs.

So, what are some preventive measures that we need to take to guard our Cavapoos against dental disease that can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, and respiratory problems?

Feed Your Cavapoo a Nutritious Dog Food

Just as sugar is one of the main drivers of bad teeth for you and me, dog food that contains a lot of sugar is BAD for your pup. 

I’m not talking about natural sugar. 

Natural sugar is good for us and comes in fruits and starchy vegetables. 

When it comes to dog food, natural sugar is present in sweet potatoes, peas, apples, and other items in some dog foods. 

What I’m talking about is ADDED SUGAR.

No definition is needed. 

The phrase ADDED SUGAR is self-explanatory.

Dog food manufacturers who use a lot of added sugar in their products do so to make their food more appealing to pets! 

And this can lead to oral decay in addition to other health concerns. 

Make sure that we feed our pups good, wholesome dog food filled with vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, proteins, and amino acids that will promote a healthier and longer life. 

Here’s a link to my post on how to choose the best dog food for your Cavapoo.  It will provide you with helpful content on the importance of buying food that will strengthen bones, drive good vision, maintain a healthy immune system, and develop weight-management. 

 

Brush Your Pup’s Pearly Whites

Before we delve into this preventive measure, I want to give you an interesting tidbit of history about the toothbrush. I think you’ll find it interesting. 

Ever heard of William Addis? His name is not on our radar of the rich and famous. But Mr. Addis contributed to society from the unenviable place of a jail cell. It was 1780 and Mr. Addis was arrested for inciting a riot. In his jail cell he thought that there had to be a better way to clean his teeth than by using a rag. So, after finding a piece of bone in his prison meal, the wheels of invention began to turn for Mr. Addis. He made holes in one end of the bone, then took bristles from a broom in his cell, and glued them in place. Upon release from his incarceration, he began a company that mass-produced toothbrushes. The company today is known as Wisdom Toothbrushes. We owe the imaginative mind of William Addis a debt of gratitude for our dental care and that of our pets. 

Now, onto brushing our Cavapoos teeth! There are options available in the market today that gives variety in brushing our pets’ teeth. 

1. One is the Jasper Dog Toothbrush, a silicone brush that molds to your finger. The 360-degree brush has bristles all over it, allowing you to brush your dog’s teeth from any angle. While The Strategist gives top honors to this toothbrush, I’m not sure if it would be my pick. Why? There’s the fear of my Opie’s sharp teeth clamping down on my finger! But you may be braver than me. So, take a look at it by clicking this link to Amazon!
2. Another choice is Vet’s Best Dog Toothbrush & Toothbrush Kit. This is the option I’d recommend. The instrument to place in your Cavapoo’s mouth is like the toothbrush we use! So, you have a little distance between your hand and your dog’s shark-like teeth! Look at Amazon’s Choice by clicking their link! If you don’t like ordering online, you can also buy dog toothbrushes at brick-and-mortar pet stores like PetSmart.

Remember when you brush your Cavapoo’s teeth to use toothpaste that’s specifically made for pets. 

Using toothpaste that we use could cause significant damage to your pet! Human toothpaste contains toxins like xylitol and fluoride. 

You can buy dog toothpaste in a variety of tasty flavors like peanut butter, beef, and chicken. 

These flavors may help your dog to look forward to getting his teeth brushed! 

Chewy offers a broad range of flavors for you to look at! You’ll be amazed at their selections! Click here to be carried to Chewy. 

Oh, yes…one more thing. 

Don’t forget to praise Tiger while you’re brushing his teeth. 

And when you finish give him a reward from his treat box! 

Using positive reinforcement is always a terrific approach! 

Schedule Yearly Cleanings for Your Cavapoo

Veterinarians recommend that small dogs get their first cleaning no later than around two years of age due to their susceptibility to dental problems.

Why are cleanings important? 

Here are a couple of reasons.

1. There are some areas that we can’t reach with a toothbrush. For example, plaque and tartar may develop below the gum line. A cleaning under general anesthesia will remove these oral enemies. 
2. Cleanings allow veterinarians to do x-rays to get an accurate picture of your pet’s oral health.

Give Your Pup Dental Chews

Dental chews are multi-faceted! 

1. They can be used as healthy treats for your dog. Does your Cavapoo need a treat? Give him a dental chew! I suppose that this is on the same level of parents giving their children a healthy snack.
2. They can clean your pup’s teeth. Dental chews are used to decrease plaque and tartar from your Cavapoo’s teeth. As Fido grinds his molars on dental chews, much of the old grime and muck deposited on his 42 permanent teeth is scraped off. 
3. Dental chews are good for the gums too! As your canine family member devours his dental chews, he is also giving his gums a rub down. Healthy gums are important because they hold the pearly whites in place.
4. Dental Chews can freshen up your Cavapoo’s smelly old bad breath. Remember that Cavapoos are loving and affectionate dogs. They’re shadow dogs, Velcro dogs, lap dogs. Get the picture? And because they’re an extension of you, you want your pup’s breath to be like spring flowers and not the city dump! 

A Few Guidelines to Follow…

1. Make sure that the dental chews correspond to the size of your dog’s mouth. You wouldn’t choose a jumbo dental chew for a Yorkie or Toy Poodle, would you? And you certainly wouldn’t choose an itty bitty tiny dental chew for a Great Dane!       
2. What flavor does your furry friend like? Choose a dental chew with a flavor he loves. Then you won’t be able to keep him from cleaning his teeth!
3. Which is a better choice for your canine buddy? Editable or no-editable dental chews? If you go for the non-editable ones, make sure that they can withstand your pooch’s choppers!
4. Look for the VOHC Registered Seal on the dental chews you buy. The seal of the Veterinary Oral Health Council is stamped on pet dental products that meet the highest of standards.

Bully Sticks are Another Option to Clean Your Cavapoo’s Teeth

Still another choice available to Cavapoo owners is bully sticks. 

Bully sticks are readily available in a conglomeration of online and brick and mortar stores carrying various pet products. 

Why are they so beneficial to a dog’s oral health? 

1. Bully sticks are made from high-protein beef muscle and are 100% natural. Their strong organ flavor is very appealing to dogs and acts like floss for your dog’s teeth.
2. The texture and durability of bully sticks promote the scraping away of plaque and tartar from your pup’s pearly whites.
3. Bully sticks, like dental chews, are also effective in maintaining healthy gums for your canine friend.

Dog Tooth Wipes are Another Choice to Clean Your Cavapoo’s Teeth

If your Cavapoo turns down your offer to brush his teeth, try using dog tooth wipes. 

Brushing your dog’s teeth is the best approach to get rid of plaque and tartar from your pups’ teeth (other than taking him to the veterinarian for a high dollar cleaning).

Dog tooth wipes are easy to use. 

Take a wipe and in a circular motion rub your pet’s teeth and gums. 

Wiping your dog’s teeth doesn’t provide the force or pressure that brushing does, but it can free loose food fragments recently deposited on his choppers!

According to Best Reviews, the Best of the Best Dog Tooth Wipes is GARYOB Pet Dental Fingers Wipes, Oral. You can purchase these from Amazon. Why not take a look by clicking here? It’s always good to have a back-up!

Conclusion

So, there you have it! The TOOTH About Your Cavapoos Teeth! 

Good, dental health is crucial for your Cavapoo to live a happy, healthy, and hopefully long life. 

In my post I’ve given you several things that you, as a Cavapoo owner, can do to help your pet have the shiniest pearly whites in the dog community!

I’ll close this post with a story about the legendary Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. 

Of course, younger readers of my post may be unfamiliar with Mr. Cronkite. 

But those of you who are members of the senior citizen club (btw, I’ve been a member for a while), you recognize his name as one of the tops of all time news broadcasters.

Well, moving along … Mr. Walter Cronkite served as the anchor man for “The CBS Evening News,” for 19 years. 

When he took the helm in 1962, he planned to end each telecast with a human-interest story and then add a final thought. 

But due to time restraints, he had to reduce his closure to six words. 

Those words?

Cronkite closed every broadcast with “And that’s the way it is.”

My fellow Cavapoo owners, I’ve told you the TOOTH about your Cavapoos teeth.

So, I’ll close with the signature closing of Mr. Cronkite.

“And that’s the way it is.”

-Howell