Love Your Pet Day! #DogDentalHealth

This post is sponsored by PetSmart, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Dental Health Month, but Daily Dog Tag only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

February is Dog Dental Health Month and today, February 20th, is Love Your Pet Day!  In some ways it seems silly to have a special day designated for loving your pet, because we love our pets every day.  There are lots of ways to show your pet how much you love them including:  playing games, snuggling, taking them for walks and of course my dogs’ favorites:  meals and treats!  Keeping pets healthy is an important part of loving them.  In addition to love, pets need exercise, mental stimulation, good nutrition, grooming, trips to the vet, including annual dental check ups.   I can count on my kids to love, play with and occasionally feed the dogs, but everything else is my responsibility.  Thanks to my sister, Alice G Patterson, for these photos of Sophie and Nelly.

Yesterday after picking up Nelly and Sophie from their grooming at PetSmart® (thanks Angella!) we also picked up some dental treats.   Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews™ seem to be their favorite dental treats. The dental treats are in the aisle closest to the cashiers in my store.

 I take my dentist’s advice about brushing my teeth after every meal quite seriously. Despite knowing better, I don’t regularly brush my dogs’ teeth.

However, I don’t feel too guilty because  “Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews™ are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing*.  When fed daily, Milk-Bone Brushing Chews are as effective as brushing a dog’s teeth twice a week based on the reduction of tartar build up and halitosis.  The Veterinary Oral Health Council recommends daily tooth brushing for optimal effectiveness. Milk-Bone Brushing Chews are VOHC Certified.”  (Taken from the Milk-Bone website.)

My dogs seem to love routine.  Their mornings typically are as follows:  go outside, come back in and play together for a while.  Most mornings Nelly chases Theo, while Sophie keenly watches, sometimes joining the game .  After their breakfast, Theo checks the kitchen for anything that might have been left out within his reach.  Next is neighborhood watch time.  Sophie looks out the dining room French doors for wildlife, Nelly perches on an armchair watching for cars and people.  Theo sleeps in my lap or on the sofa, but he is ready to join in a neighborhood bark if needed.  Mid or late morning I give them dental treats in their crates.  Theo will let me know if I’m late, by jumping on his crate and trying to get them on his own.

Nelly always knows when there is something delicious in a box!

Over 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of dental disease by three years of age.  Dental treats/chews are an easy way to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy.

Nelly was so impatient waiting for her dental treat, she jumped up about 3 feet and grabbed it from Alice.

How do you show your pet that you love them?  Celebrate today by doing special with your pets.  Make every month dog dental health month by giving your dogs dental treats, brushing their teeth and scheduling regular oral exams for them.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in portraits for small businesses, senior portraits,  and dog photography.