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Accidents and illness happens and when it does, it cannot sometimes leave your tiny companion with only a few or none of their teeth. Thankfully, dogs will few or no teeth can adapt pretty well to mealtime with your help.
In fact, dogs who are all gums are not that rare, especially when it comes to smaller breeds. With regular and consistent doggy dental checkups, you should be able to avoid this from happening, but even if you are unable to, you can make preparations to ensure that eating is as simple and tasty as possible for your loyal companion.
The Trouble With Tiny Mouths
It is not uncommon for vets to see many small dogs with dental problems due to their tiny mouths. This is because when teeth are crowded into a small space, it becomes especially difficult to provide them with a good cleaning and increases their risk of plaque and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, will end up getting worse and worse until the painful and infected teeth lose their anchoring then they will either fall out or need to be removed by your vet.
This is typically why vets try to encourage proper dental care and regular teeth cleanings when it comes to smaller breeds. You can also find that using a finger toothbrush or a dental swipe can help you care for your dog’s teeth right from the comfort of your own home. Next time you visit your local vet, try asking about a comprehensive prevention plan and for doggy dental care that you can do at home.
It Is Time To Eat
You need to keep your tiny toothless dog on the same feeding schedule as you had before. This means that they will need at least two meals a day or possibly even more, depending on their size, activity level, and any additional dietary issues they may have.
While it may be tempting to feed your small toothless dog mushy or soft table scraps, you don’t want to risk them gaining any extra pounds. However, if your dog has only just recently had their teeth out, then baby food can be good for recuperation. Still, once they have healed up, you should continue to have them eat nutritional dog food.
Mash It Up
Still, with little or no teeth to eat with, your small dog will be unable to return to eating their hard dry dog food. In order to make it easier for your tiny companion to munch on their kibble, try moistening it with dabs of warm water. Once the water has soaked in a bit, you should easily be able to mash it up with a fork and allow your small dog to consume their food easily. Additionally, if you haven’t already, you should stick to dog food that is specially made for small dogs as the kibble will be in the perfect size for your dog’s tiny mouth.
If you prefer to feed your dog a high-quality canned diet, try to start with a brand and recipe that is pate consistency or has easily mashable chunks. Add just a dash of warm water to your small toothless dog’s portion and then continue to mash it with a fork.
Under no circumstances should you leave any large chucks of food in their dish. By doing so, you will be encouraging your dog to attempt to swallow them whole and risk them choking on their food. With little or no teeth to chew their food, you need to make sure that all of their food is swallowable as is because presenting it to them.
Additionally, you should avoid any canned diets that consist of shredded meat. Shredded meat is very difficult to chop up into a smaller size and will be quite challenging for your tiny toothless dog too much on.
A Rich Raw Diet
Due to an increase in popularity, more and more pet stores contain a variety of meaty diets for dog owners who wish to feed their companion a high quality raw diet. These raw dog food diets offer a complete and natural nutrition for dogs and there are a few varieties that can be easily mashed up for your tiny toothless dog.
Another raw dog food option you may want to look into are freeze dried patties that can easily be broken into smaller portions and reconstituted with water. Ask your local pet shop for recommendations and samples to find the perfect consistency and flavor for your dog.
A Healthy Homemade Diet
However, you may prefer to prepare a homemade diet, which can sometimes be necessary for dogs with certain food allergies, sensitive stomachs, or other dietary issues. Before going through with this diet plan, you should consult with your vet for proper recipes and tips for a nutritional homemade dog food diet.
With an approved recipe on hand and a blender, you will be able to finely chop ingredients including rice, chicken, hamburger, egg, greens, and more. Make sure you cook any grains or starchy vegetables and any chicken or hamburger used before serving it to your dog. If your vet recommends it, you can also add supplements.
If you are looking to save yourself some time, try to make a big batch all at once and then freeze portions in individual serving containers to bring your small dog throughout the week.
