ArcaMax

"Individual genetics may play a role in terms of why some dogs accumulate plaque and tartar so quickly and others do not," says Dr. Andrew Eschner, Northeast Regional Director, Field Veterinary Services, at Merial, Gansevoort, NY.

Eschner celebrates your effort; clearly doing the best you can for Ginger.

"While brushing is the gold standard, only a small percentage (of dog owners) do it regularly," he said.

Buying dental treats is a good idea, but what are you buying? In some cases, manufacturers simply recognize a need and market products which might not be as beneficial as claimed. One way to check products is to verify if they are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC): http://www.vohc.org/.

Your timing couldn't be better, as Merial has recently released the OraVet Dental Hygiene Chew, a tasty, once-a-day, dual-action chew for dogs, only available through veterinarians. The product, which most dogs love, releases a dental compound called delmopinol. The compound interferes with plaque formation, throughout the mouth, acting like a plaque-reducing "mouthwash." In addition, when dogs bite into the chew, there's a scrubbing action, like brushing, working in parallel with delmopinol.

Eschner rattles off all sorts of data supporting how the product lessens plaque and calculus. His favorite: "There's a 53 percent reduction of halitosis. That bad breath is bad for a reason, and it can affect the human/animal bond. Most important, a healthier mouth means a healthier pet."

One outcome may be fewer dentals. In all honestly, Ginger may require as many professional dental treatments throughout her lifetime, but the condition of her teeth and gums going in won't be quite so bad.

(OraVet is not yet VOHC accepted, as it's too new)

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Q: The spot-on I've been using for years on my dogs to stop fleas and ticks has failed. My veterinarian is suggesting I've somehow failed, but I'm not sure how this is my fault. No matter, he's stuck on the idea that only one product works. What should I use on my dogs? -- F.G., Navarre, FL

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