It is known that having a dog comes with great responsibility. Apart from guaranteeing correct physical activity, good hygiene or properly deworming, oral health stands as another of the fundamental pillars for the well-being of your pet. Dogs, like people, tend to accumulate plaque and tartar on their teeth, and it is in this aspect that snacks can help prevent the appearance of these or other problems that require dental cleaning. But how to choose the one that best suits your pet? Below, we give you some tips to find the tastiest and healthiest snack for your dog.
Make a selection among those snacks that contain high-quality natural ingredients. These will promote the health and well-being of your dog while keeping their teeth clean. To do this, check the back of the dental snack packages, which will list the ingredients classified according to their content, from highest to lowest.
Typically, brands also specify whether or not their snacks include genetically modified ingredients. Look for recognizable ingredients, such as salmon or potatoes, and avoid vague descriptions, such as “cereal,” since not knowing where they come from indicates inferior quality.
Some dogs have special sensitivity or allergies to certain ingredients, such as beef or dairy products. That is why it is advisable to consider alternative products, with a short list of ingredients, or vegetarian and grain-free dental snacks, to avoid stomach pain or allergic reactions to your pet.
Also by its label you can know the place of manufacture of dental snacks. Normally, European and North American industries are subject to strict controls that guarantee the quality of their products. Meanwhile, in other markets, such as China, these regulations are more lax and therefore snacks are produced with lower quality standards.
One method to know the effectiveness of snacks is to check if they have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance. This means that the benefits for your dog's dental health, such as reducing plaque or tartar, have been tested. Its daily use is key to ensuring good results.
Depending on the size of your pet, choose the dental snack that best suits the size of its mouth and the amount of calories it needs. This way, proper cleaning of their teeth is guaranteed and the chances of your dog swallowing a large piece that could cause stomach discomfort are reduced.
