Natural Solution for Teeth & Gum Problems in Your Dog
Dental disease such as rotten teeth and gums is a common problem in cats and dogs. In fact 60% of pets over the age of three require costly veterinarian dental care due to dental disease problems.
Possible causes of dental disease in cats and dogs?
• Lack of natural diet for pets such as raw meats and bones
• A diet high in carbohydrates commonly found in dry and canned foods cause hardened plaques to buildup on the teeth.
Dental plaque accumulation causes inflammation and painful gums. Ultimately the gums become so inflamed that it loosens the tooth attachment resulting in tooth loss for your pet. If your pet has rotten teeth or gums, It is important to have a proper assessment by a Vet to assess appropriate treatment.
It is common practice for many pets to be fed a dry food only diet. It is also common for many pet owners to believe that dry foods can prevent dental disease. This is quite the contrary. Is your teeth cleaned after eating a dry biscuit?
Natural Holistic Solutions for healthy gums and teeth
100% Natural BARF (Bones & Raw Food) Diet
What is 100% natural BARF diet?The diet of our canine and feline ancestors consisted of fresh, real meat and bones. Consider the diet currently of wild dogs such as dingoes and wild cats such as a lion or a tiger. The animals in the wild hunt for their prey, which is often, another wild animal consumed as food. Ever wondered the impact of these wild animals if their diet consisted of dry biscuits or canned foods?
Similarly, the genetics and diet of our canine and feline ancestors is still suited to fresh meat and real bones.
BARF is a natural raw food diet, which consists of fresh real meat, raw bones and fresh vegetables. A Barf rich diet will naturally cleanse your pets teeth and gums by correcting saliva pH thereby improving digestion. The chewing of raw bones gently massages the gums and teeth thereby preventing plaque buildup, inflammation and dental disease.Therefore a BARF diet helps prevents plaque formation and sore gums and teeth saving you costly veterinarian dental care.
Add raw bones to your pets diet
Raw bones provide a rich source of nutrition for your pet and gnawing on bones acts as a natural toothbrush helping to remove the plaque and tatar leading to healthy gums and teeth.
Ensure that the bones are the appropriate size for your pet, toxin free and from a young animal. You may like to add soft lamb legs, lamb flaps, chicken necks and wings, frames, carcasses, beef brisket, kangaroo tails, ox tails and pork. These can be sourced from your local butcher.
Ensure plenty of fresh, filtered water is available to your pet at all times.
Add Yogurt or Kefir to your pets diet
Yoghurt is a great addition to your pets diet. Yoghurt contains live bacteria which helps improve your pet’s digestion. Yoghurt also helps destroy the odour causing bacteria that causes plaque build-up.Buy only natural, organic or biodynamic plain yoghurt. Avoid yoghurt, which is flavoured or coloured, as this can be high in sugar and artificial sweeteners. A sprinkle of Cinnamon powder can be added instead as Cinnamon has additional health benefits. Fresh fruits such as berries may also be added to the yoghurt. You can make a smoothie for your pet by adding the yoghurt, kefir and the fruits.Kefir contains a large amount of phosphorus and B complex vitamins (important for maintenance of healthy teeth), it promotes the faster healing of wounds, illness, it is excellent for the immune system, and a rich source of good bacteria.
Recommended Daily Intake of Kefir or Yogurt
o Small size dogs and cats – 1 tsp to 1 tbs
o Medium size dogs – 1/8 cup
o Large dogs – 1/3 cup
o Extra large dogs – 1/2 cup
Additionally, natural medicine can offer support for pets with dental disease as well as preventing dental disease by helping build immunity and improving dental health. We have listed relevant vitamin, herbal, mineral, homeopathic medicine and glandular supplementation that you can use.
1. Vitamin C supplement
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and is found primarily in fruits and vegetables. A diet high in Vitamin C helps prevent periodontal disease and helps build immunity. Vitamin C and its bioflavonoids Rutin, hesperidin and quercitin are important for strengthening connective tissue surrounding the gums and teeth.
Vitamin C supplementation may be mixed in your pet’s food. As vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and cannot be toxic in any way. Light stools can be experienced with very high doses however this is normal as this signifies the threshold of Vitamin C absorption.
2. Coenzyme Q10 (‘CoQ10’)
CoQ10 is abundantly found in the gums and muscles of the heart. CoQ10 is useful for improving periodontal disease and may assist with decreasing inflammation, redness and bleeding around the gums.
3. Folic Acid
Folic Acid helps reduce inflammation and bleeding associated with gingivitis.
4. Glandular Therapy- Thymus Extract
A Natural Cortisone, Inflammation reduction without drugs containing Thymus Extract, Beta-Sitosterol and Ornithin
5.Reckeweg Homeopathic Remedies
Belladonna Homaccord
Useful for severe gingivitis that represents stomatitis changes and periodontal disease.
Coenzyme Compositum
Contains Citiricum acidum which is useful for dental problems and gingivitis. Also treats blackening of teeth and heavy deposits of dental plaque,
Nux Vomica Homaccord
Useful in gingivitis, liver and gastrointestinal disease.
Traumeel
An anti inflammatory agent that promotes healing and modulates inflammation.
Mucosa Compositum
This remedy contains a useful component in Kali bichromicum, indicated for ulcers of the gums. It contains Hydrastis , with mucosal support for oral problems. Dental cases such as spongy gums and carious teeth.
Ubichinon Compositum
Contains Anthraquinone for swelling of gums and for GI symptoms such as distention and abdominal cramping.
6. Colloidal Silver
Colloidal Silver is a natural antiseptic, antifungal and antiviral. Therefore Colloidal Silver can be used for killing viruses and bacteria associated with rotten teeth and bleeding gums. Colloidal Silver can be used internally as well as topically.
Topical Usage: Apply cotton ball dipped in colloidal silver onto the affected area. Repeat for best results.
Oral usage: Add to drinking water.
Small dog or cat ¼ tsp three times a day for up to 10 days, Medium dog size ½ tsp three times per day for up to10 days and large sized dogs up to 1.5 tbsp 3 times a day for up to 10days.Avoid using Colloidal Silver for prolonged period of time or animals with compromised liver, kidney and bladder conditions.
7. Echinacea
Echinacea is used traditionally for building the immune system, for colds and flu and even used in oral care such as throat gargles and toothpaste. Echinacea has many healing properties, which make it a strong anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and analgesic. Echinacea helps fight gum infections and is soothing to aching gums and teeth. Echinacea can be used safely for pregnant dogs and cats.
Mix the herb powder or capsule into food.
Topical Usage: Dab tincture of Echinacea on cotton ball and apply to infected gums. Repeat for best results.
8. Oil of Oregano
The Oil of Oregano is a strong antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. The oil of Oregano is safe for most dogs.
Avoid use of oil of oregano on cats.
9. Organic Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is widely used in cooking and skincare for its healing properties. Coconut oil is high in caprylic acid, which makes it a natural antiviral, antifungal and an antibiotic.
Coconut oil is excellent for tooth decay and helps fight dental issues.
Usage: Add to your pets food and safely used for both cats and dogs.
10. Myrrh
Myrrh is a resinous gum and is a natural antiseptic, antibiotic and has antibiotic properties. Myrrh is traditionally used for sore gums and mouth ulcers and its anti-inflammatory healing properties make it useful for dental problems.
Avoid use of Myrrh on cats.
Dosage: Apply tincture of Myrrh on cotton ball and massage on inflamed teeth and gums until condition subsides. Repeat procedure for best results.
11. Calendula
Calendula has antiseptic, antiviral, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory properties. Calendula is used from skin preparations to toothpaste and gargles. It has soothing and healing properties which make it ideal for inflamed gums. Calendula can be used safely on dogs.
Dosage: Apply tincture of Calendula on a cotton bud and massage onto inflamed gums. Repeat 2 to 3 times daily for best results.
11. Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit is a popular citrus fruit rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Grapefruit seed extract (‘GSE’) is a liquid extract derived from parts of the Grapefruit. GSE has been noted for its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and therefore may be useful to periodontal disease
Dosage: Add 2 drops of GSE in 1 tsp of coconut oil and massage on the inflamed gums using a cotton bud. Repeat procedure 2-3 times daily for best results and until condition improves.
12. Manuka Honey
Manuka Honey produced by bees that feed on a native tree of New Zealand. Used for its great healing properties for centuries, Manuka Honey is well known for its antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic properties. Benefits: Speeds up the healing process by stimulating wound tissues; initiates the healing process in dormant wounds; is an autolytic debridement (helps remove damaged, dead, infected tissue) and is an excellent moist wound healing agent.
Other types of raw untreated honey can also be used- i.e. wild flower, lavender which also have medicinal properties but Manuka honey has even stronger medicinal properties than most other honey. Never use pasteurized honey as it has NO medicinal properties and is simply another form of sugar. Safe for most dogs and cats.
13. Ceylon Cinnamon Powder
Cinnamon has been used in Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries for its extensive healing properties. Cinnamon is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and aids digestion. Traditionally cinnamon was used to numb teeth and gums
Traditionally, cinnamon was used to numb teeth and gums and makes excellent use for dental problems.
Daily Dosage
• Small Dogs and Cats – 1/8 tsp a day.
• Medium Dogs – ¼ tsp a day;
• Large Dogs – ½ tsp a day;
Cautions: cinnamon can be irritant, particularly cinnamon oil. Ceylon cinnamon powder in the doses mentioned above is safe for pregnant dogs.A void cinnamon essential oil on a pregnant dog or cat.
Oral Rinse, Mouth Wash Recipes
Ceylon Cinnamon, Kefir and Manuka Honey
In a glass, mix about 5 tbs of Manuka Honey and Kefir with 1/8 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon powder;
Make sure the cinnamon is completely mixed through.
Use an eye dropper to squirt the liquid into your dog’s mouth;
Have a towel ready and keep it under your dog’s chin as the liquid will dribble back out of your dog’s mouth;
Apply the paste to the aching tooth. You may apply this paste up to 3 times per day until the pain is arrested.
Have some water ready if your dog needs a drink.