Pooch and Mutt have launched a range of brand new dental sticks, and they’ve proved so popular, they sold out in 31 hours. Luckily, having signed up to the newsletter, we had our paws on the pulse for the release and managed to bag a pack of each of the two new flavours.
The daily dental sticks are a great way to help keep your dog’s teeth healthy, after 43 per cent of owners admitted to never brushing their pets’ gnashers. But it’s so important to ensure you keep up a good oral hygiene routine to avoid your dog getting periodontal disease.
Pooch and Mutt’s Veterinary expert Dr. Linda Simon explained: “When food cakes on to teeth, bacteria proliferate. This leads to red gums, visible calculus build up, a foul smell and oral pain. A large proportion of adult dogs have dental disease and may be suffering in silence. It is often presumed a dog will stop eating when their teeth are hurting but this is rarely the case. Most dogs will soldier on, eating their meals and acting normal despite severe dental disease and chronic pain.
“Dental disease can lead to a range of issues, not least a poorer quality of life. The bacteria burden can mean that infections spread around the body, affecting organs including the liver and heart. If teeth aren’t kept clean, calculus builds up and the gums become swollen and inflamed. The teeth loosen in their socket and become wobbly, eventually requiring extraction.”
Pooch and Mutt launched their healthy dental sticks on Sunday, May 29, and come Tuesday, they were all gone, but don’t worry, they’ll be restocked soon! Just sign up to their newsletter to be the first to hear about it.
There are two dental sticks to choose from – Superfood and Calming – priced at £3.49 for a pack of seven. Fed daily, one pack can last a dog over the age of six months a week, so it could be worth subscribing to save 87p a pack.
The brand have talked extensively in the past on why you shouldn’t feed your dog Pedigree Dentastix, and their own oral hygiene chew is the perfect alternative.
The Superfood dental sticks contain spirulina and mint, and are a convenient way to clean your dog’s teeth daily, whilst boosting their diet with functional ingredients. Spirulina is a natural superfood with powerful antioxidant properties which acts as a natural antihistamine and removes toxins from the body, making it perfect for pups with seasonal allergies.
Meanwhile antimicrobial mint kills bacteria in the mouth and helps to keep breath fresh. The recipe also features lean and healthy chicken which is high in protein and a compound called sodium hexametaphosphate, which sounds scarier than it actually is.
Pooch and Mutt explained: “SHMP binds the calcium found in dental plaque so it can be easily removed via dogs saliva. This process prevents the formation of tartar or ‘dental calculus’, leading to fresher, healthier gums. It can also minimise the risk of periodontal disease in dogs, the main cause of dental disease and early tooth loss in dogs and cats.”
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For dogs who are anxious or prone to stress, Pooch and Mutt have also launched a calming daily dental stick with naturally stress-reducing hemp, and has been anecdotally proven to aid sleep and help pets with noise-based phobias.
Also included is common herb sage has long been used as a natural remedy for infections or ulceration of the mouth, digestive tract and skin, and can help reduce plaque formation along the gumline, aiding SHMP in preventing tartar build up.
I love the packaging of the new Pooch and Mutt daily dental sticks, with the superfood sticks coming in a minty green pouch, and the calming ones in pink. The plant-based plastic packaging is resealable for freshness and the slightest rustle of the pouch sees Phoebe and Frank scramble into the kitchen.
The sticks have been shaped to offer a deep clean between the teeth, and aren’t hollow like other similar products on the market. This means that they last longer for optimum chewing time, allowing more saliva to form to aid teeth cleaning. The abrasive surface scrapes along teeth, preventing plaque from sticking to the surface of the tooth and in some cases, like Winston whose teeth have been awful ever since being rescued, can help break off calculus.
Because they last longer than your average treat or biscuit, dogs view them as high value and enriching – it’s much easier to get them to take care of their teeth than it is a toddler, that’s for sure. Each stick lasted Phoebe and Frank around the two minute mark, and with the calming sticks, we saw an almost immediate effect. During a Jubilee barbecue, both dogs were lay under the gazebo relaxed and calm, rather than sniffing around the table for scraps and jumping over guests.
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Remember to always factor dental sticks into your dog’s daily calorie intake, reducing their meal portions so they are not being overfed. Other ways to best take care of your dog and their teeth is to brush them daily with a dog-friendly toothpaste and toothbrush, as well as feeding dry kibble rather than wet food – we are currently using Canagan.
And be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of dental disease and consult a vet if you notice a change in how your dog chews, red or inflamed gums that bleed easily, bad breath and build up on the teeth.
Pooch and Mutt’s daily dental sticks are set to be restocked soon, so be sure to sign up to their newsletter to be the first to know when they land back online.
