When it comes to eating, dogs don’t hold back. They will be interested in your food as well, so they might even be a little too eager to eat. Another reason we adore dogs is their ravenous appetite.
However, there may be a time when your pet dog finds it challenging to eat. It might not even be caused by a disease of some sort. Although your dog may still be eager to eat, their difficulty is caused by their missing teeth.
Continue reading this article to learn the important answers to the following questions: What happens if a dog loses their teeth? Can they still eat normally or will adjustments be necessary?
Feeding Your Dog Canned Wet Food
Cans of wet food are a fantastic alternative when it comes to feeding your toothless dog. Finding wet food your dog will eat shouldn’t be difficult because so many manufacturers produce it. There are many different flavors available for wet foods, including fish, chicken, and beef. To determine which brand or flavor your dog prefers, you may need to try a few.
Make sure to inspect the canned food to ensure there are no noticeable chunks. Before serving, mash any chunks with a fork if you find any. The most crucial thing is to make sure that your dog eats enough food each day because, after losing their teeth, they might be reluctant to eat for a while. Happily, almost all dogs eventually resume eating normally, even following significant oral surgery.
Hydrated Kibble
To soften and hydrate the hard kibble your dog already enjoys is one straightforward solution. Her comforting and familiar food will be simple for her to eat by soaking her crunchy kibble in warm water or broth overnight. To break up any chunks after the kibble has softened, mash it with a fork. Before serving, add a little more warm liquid or briefly reheat the bowl in the microwave. Because your dog’s gums are sensitive to both heat and cold, food that has been mildly warmed will feel comforting to her gums.
Homemade Soft Food
A third option is to make your own soft dog food at home. This can be done by adding your chosen lean protein (beef, bison, chicken, or turkey) to a slow-cooker, along with fruits (berries, bananas, mango) and vegetables (sweet potato, butternut squash, green beans, bell peppers, zucchini, and spinach) that are safe and nutritious for dogs. Talk with your veterinarian about the best ratios, and the possibility of adding a vitamin supplement to the mix. Cook this mixture in your crockpot on low for 8 hours, let cool, add a grain like rice if desired, then blend until smooth. If you don’t have a slow-cooker, you can cook all of the various ingredients on your stovetop, then blend together until smooth. If needed, spoon some water or coconut oil into the mix to get the right consistency. Warm the mixture gently before serving.
FAQ
How do you feed a dog with no teeth?
Your dog’s favorite kibble can be improved in flavor and made much easier to consume by adding hot water, chicken broth, or beef broth and letting it sit for 5 minutes. Because softened dry food tastes exactly like the food your dog is used to, feeding it to them will ease their dietary transition.
Can a dog live well with no teeth?
You’ll be relieved to learn that while it requires some adaptation and special care, dogs can live without teeth and, in most cases, it’s preferable to living with teeth that hurt them.
What happens if a dog loses his teeth?
The lost tooth should ideally be kept and brought with you to the veterinarian appointment so that we can determine whether any of the root can be saved. Place the tooth in milk if an important tooth, such as a canine, is accidentally knocked out. This will keep the tooth alive until it can be put back into the socket.