All year long, I have miniature home experiments going on in my house. Most of them are related to improving the health and well being of my dogs. I test products, pour over canine literature, and make notes on what works and what doesn’t.
Many of these experiments aren’t shared on the blog because I’m not satisfied with the results. I can safely say there isn’t a dental chew on the market that removes the hardened-on calculus on your dog’s teeth.
I can also say that tooth brushing once a day may be the gold standard, but it doesn’t appear to be enough for chihuahuas. My dogs still get heavy plaque build up and require regular dentals, often with extractions, even though I am diligent with their oral care.
Over the years I’ve tried the water additives, different toothpastes, dental chews, natural chews, hard food, and so many other tactics to try and find my own personal gold standard for oral care. I finally hit on it recently, and I’d like to share how you too can beat tartar build-up back in your chihuahuas.
The Secret Ingredient
I finally found something that worked about two months ago. While browsing at my local pet store, I found this powder in the dental care section. (Affiliate link) The powder promised to work through the dogs vascular system to make it harder for plaque to stick on. It also promised to soften calculus.
A quick look online found three different studies on it, all finding that it reduced plaque, tartar, halitosis, and bleeding of the gums.
The one drawback is that it is high in iodine, so owners of dogs with hypothyroidism should discuss the product with their veterinarian before trying it on their own pets.
Our Results
I brush my dog’s teeth once or twice a day using C.E.T. toothpaste, and did not change this during the test. The powder still helps remove calculus even without tooth brushing, but I found that the calculus broke off a lot faster with the friction from a brush passing over it to help.
I did not use any water additives, dental chews, or hard kibble at the time of this particular test run. I tested this on three chihuahuas, one who just had a dental less than a year ago, one with heavy tartar build-up, and one with severe dental disease. (Leia cannot have dental surgery due to some health related concerns, Tank is due for a dental but owing to the rising cost of dental care, I am still saving for his.
Here’s a shot of Tank’s teeth before starting the product, and 8 weeks after. Improvements are still ongoing. I’m very impressed with this product, and encourage you to give it a try. I believe this powder could be the secret ingredient to keeping your chihuahua’s mouth healthy.
Similar Posts:
- Do Dental Sticks Help With Plaque Reduction?
- How to Brush Your Chihuahua’s Teeth
- 5 Best Chews for Chihuahuas
- What are the odds of a healthy dog dying suddenly from anesthesia?
- Review of oneisall Paw Pad Clippers
