Ingredients To Avoid In Vet-Recommended Toothpaste For Dogs
Label reading is just as important to your dog’s dental care as it is to his food. And the ingredients are just as toxic and chemically-based. These few ingredients listed, and many more, are in toothpastes approved by veterinarians for your dog.
But you want to strive for chemical-free, natural ingredients in all aspects of your dog’s care.
You can start by avoiding artificial sweeteners like dextrose, sodium saccharin and sorbitol. Your dog doesn’t need sweeteners anyway. Alcohol, artificial colours like sodium copper chloraphyilinis and artificial flavors are also big no-nos. As are artificial preservatives like potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate. These link to allergies and organ toxicity.
The FDA banned Tricolsan, an antibacterial linked to hormone disruption. Yet it is still on some labels for dog toothpaste.
And it might surprise you to learn that there are online toothpastes for dogs that don’t list phosphoric acid in their ingredients. Yet their physical product packaging states “may contain phosphoric acid.” Animal studies show it has toxic effects at moderate doses. At low concentrations, phosphoric acid can cause dry, red, cracked skin with skin contact.
Potassium thiocyanate is in toothpaste and pharmaceutical products. It is a skin and eye irritant. And here’s another one to avoid. Do you want potassium nitrate in your dog’s toothpaste? It’s used in gunpowder, as a fertilizer and in medicine. It can cause eye and skin irritation, and serious effects in high concentrations.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has sodium laurel sulfate listed as an ingredient in almost 1,500 health and beauty products including toothpaste for dogs. It’s a surfactant that causes products to foam and bubble. It’s ranked as “fair” which is a low hazard risk. Yet it’s known to be an irritant to eyes, skin, mouth and lungs. And it’s suspected to be an environmental toxin.
Now for some ingredients that are a little simpler.
Homemade Natural Toothpaste Recipes For Dogs
Many toothpaste recipes for dogs use coconut oil but, as mentioned earlier, it’s not great for your dog’s gut health. Instead, use organic MCT oil or organic ghee (clarified butter). If you choose MCT oil, use a brand without lauric acid.
Or leave out the fats and liquids to make a great homemade tooth powder.
How valuable is dog toothpaste for your dog’s dental health?
Here’s the truth: the real benefit in routine home dental care isn’t from the toothpaste. It’s the physical act of brushing—the repetitive motion of the bristles scrubbing away food particles and plaque deposits in the mouth—that makes brushing your dog’s teeth so valuable. When you take your car to the DIY car wash, is it the pink soap that cleans the dirt and debris from your car, or is it your elbow grease? Consistency and good technique are far more valuable than the animal-safe toothpaste you use. Brushing with plain water is reasonable.
Can You Use Human Toothpaste on a Dog or Cat? | Pet Dental Care Series
The most important thing to remember about brushing your dog’s teeth is don’t use human toothpaste on your dog. The reason? Many human toothpastes contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs.