Small Breed Dogs and Periodontal Disease
Written on Monday, April 17th, 2017Did you know that your small breed dog is genetically predisposed to dental/periodontal disease? The major reason for this is that small dogs have smaller jaws and the teeth are more crowded, leaving tighter spaces for food particles to hide. Genetics, diet, age, and health status also play a role.
The type of diet chosen for small breed dogs is crucial to their periodontal health. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a dry food diet that promotes dental health. Chewing kibbles does not keep teeth clean. In fact, it does the opposite when tiny dry food particles get caught between the tooth and the gum. Saying that kibble cleans teeth is like saying that a hard cookie would clean your own teeth when we know this couldn't possibly be the case!