Loss of teeth is relatively common in older dogs, especially when their oral he alth and hygiene have not been maintained in good condition throughout their lives. These animals require a diet adapted to their needs, which allows food consumption without any pain, discomfort or injury.
If you are interested in learning more about food for dogs without teeth, don't hesitate to join us in the following article on our site at which we will talk about the most important aspects of the diet of these dogs.
The best feed for dogs without teeth
Dogs that have not had proper oral hygiene throughout their lives often suffer from tooth loss when they reach their mature stage.
Missing teeth can make it difficult to grasp and chew food, especially when it comes to dry feed. For this reason, in these cases it is essential to carry out an adaptation of the dog's diet, in order to facilitate their intake and avoid any pain or discomfort caused by the food.
Specifically, there are two alternatives:
- Wet feed: Many commercial feeds on the market are sold in both wet and dry versions. If the range of feed that you usually give your dog is available in a wet version, you can choose to change it gradually. If, on the other hand, your usual feed is not available in a wet format, you should choose to change the range or brand, as long as it is appropriate for the breed and age of your dog. In this case, it is important that you make the change progressively (mixing both feeds and gradually increasing the quantity of the new feed) to avoid gastrointestinal problems. In any of the cases, it is important that you cut the wet food into small pieces, to avoid possible choking.
- Moistened dry feed: if you wish to continue administering the same feed, you can choose to moisten it with water or with meat, chicken or broth. vegetables (as long as they are s alt-free) until you get a puréed texture. If you prefer, you can choose to add the liquid (water or broth) slightly warm, to make it more appetizing.
What is the best wet food for dogs? Discover the answer in the following article that we recommend from our site.
Homemade toothless dog food
If you usually give your dog a homemade ration, you should know that there is also the possibility of adapting his diet to tooth loss.
In general, you can feed the same foods that are usually included in the diet of dogs (meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, rice, etc.), but it is important that you offer them cooked In this way, the food will have a softer texture and will be easier to swallow and digest.
Once cooked, you can choose to chop them into small pieces or shred them. We recommend that you try different textures (more or less crushed) and choose the one that is most preferred by your dog.
Of course, you should prevent these dogs from eating bones or other hard foods, since they can encourage the loss of more pieces and cause significant lesions in the oral mucosa.
How to help a toothless dog eat?
The best way to help a toothless dog eat is adapting the diet to his needs, as we have explained in previous sections.
Provide a diet with a soft and smooth texture will allow the animal to consume the food without suffering pain, discomfort, or injury to the mouth. Similarly, offering foods cooked and mashed will facilitate swallowing and help them to be better digested.
As a note, you should know that some dogs can take some time to get used to eating food without prior chewing In these cases, it is It is recommended that you try different textures since, for example, some dogs reject highly ground food, in the form of puree. In the same way, you can try to offer the food lukewarm, to make it more palatable and appetizing.
How to prevent my dog from losing teeth?
Tooth loss is often associated with inadequate he alth care and oral hygiene in dogs throughout their lives. For this reason, it is important to take into account a series of guidelines to prevent our pets from suffering from tooth loss when they reach adulthood.
- Dental hygiene: teeth cleaning should be done routinely from the moment the permanent dentition erupts, it is say, from 7-8 months of ageTo do this, you should use toothbrushes and toothpaste for veterinary use, since products intended for people can cause gastritis. To maintain correct oral hygiene it is necessary to clean 2 or 3 times a week How to clean a dog's teeth? Discover the answer in the following article that we recommend.
- Chewable snacks: these types of products help to drag away bacterial plaque, thus avoiding the appearance of periodontal disease. In addition, strengthens the periodontal ligament , which helps prevent tooth loss.
- Avoid games with hard elements: such as stones, sticks, etc. that can cause lesions in the oral mucosa, or cause the fall or fracture of teeth.
- Veterinary check-ups: Periodic veterinary check-ups allow oral pathologies to be detected in the early stages and early treatment to be instituted, which helps toprevent complications such as tooth loss In addition to regular check-ups, it is important to go to a veterinary center whenever signs such as halitosis (bad breath), anorexia (lack of appetite), bleeding gums, mobile or fractured teeth, etc. are detected.
- Dental cleaning: this procedure consists of removing tartar and plaque adhered to the surface of the teeth using an ultrasound equipment. Although it is not necessary to perform this type of cleaning routinely, some dogs with a greater tendency to tartar accumulation may need them annually.
