This week, I'm joined once again by the brilliant Dr. Katie Kangas—veterinarian, educator, and true oral health guru. With decades of experience working alongside board-certified veterinary dentists, she brings such a deep well of insight. In this episode, we're diving into what every pet parent needs to know about preventing tooth pain, gum disease, and yes—even early death–from untreated dental issues. Dr. Katie breaks down why anesthesia-free cleanings aren't very effective, how your small dog is at greater risk than your big dog, and how to understand the difference between general practice and specialty dentistry. And here's the best part: she shares powerful (and easy!) daily hacks you can start using right now to protect your pet's dental health. This episode could literally save your dog's life. Let's get into it 🦷

KEY INSIGHTS:

• How dental disease in dogs is a hidden source of chronic inflammation linked to heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis, and even a shortened lifespan. 

• How pets can’t truly be in whole-body wellness while living with poor oral health—and why it’s a foundational part of your dog’s long-term health plan.

• How gingivitis is the first warning sign—if your pet’s gums bleed or look red, it’s important to catch it early and help them heal.

• How brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard, but even just gently rubbing the gums daily with coconut oil or natural dental products can make a real difference.

• How important it is to look inside your pet’s mouth regularly—so you can spot early signs of inflammation, dental pain, broken teeth, infections, or a mass starting to grow. 

• How the supplement TEEF helps rebalance your pet’s oral microbiome by feeding the good bacteria and reducing the bad—improving breath and reducing harmful plaque.

• How kibble does not clean teeth—and can actually increase your pet’s risk of dental disease.

• How to choose safe dog chews that help support dental health without risking fractured teeth—and which popular chews to avoid.

• How broken teeth in dogs are a serious medical issue that can cause pain, infection, and systemic inflammation—and need immediate attention from your vet.

• How integrative whole-body care at home can still make a powerful impact—especially when anesthesia isn’t an option due to heart conditions, kidney disease, or budget constraints.

• And Dr. Katie tells us about her own natural dental product for dogs. 

  
  

  RESOURCES:

  🦷 Dr. Katie’s Brand 👉 Share Your Bowl 

  🦷 Boost your pets oral microbiome with this supplement 👉 TEEF

  
  

  FOLLOW:

  Integrative Pet Wellness Center: ⁠https://integrativepet.com/⁠

  Dr. Katie Kangas: ⁠@drkatiekangas⁠

  Dr. Katie Kangas: ⁠https://intvetcare.com/#top⁠

  Integrative Pet Wellness Center on Instagram: ⁠@integrativepet⁠

  Dr. Lily Chen on Instagram: ⁠@dr.lilychen⁠ and ⁠@the.unicorn.vet⁠

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