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As dog owners, we all want our furry companions to live long, happy, and healthy lives. But one area that's often overlooked is dental health. By the time many dogs reach adulthood, plaque and tartar buildup can lead to serious issues like periodontal disease, which affects up to 80% of dogs by age 3. Unfortunately, myths about dog dental...
As dog owners, we all want our furry companions to live long, happy, and healthy lives. But one area that's often overlooked is dental health. By the time many dogs reach adulthood, plaque and tartar buildup can lead to serious issues like periodontal disease, which affects up to 80% of dogs by age 3. Unfortunately, myths about dog dental care persist, causing owners to delay proper prevention until problems become advanced - and often require surgery. Here are 7 widespread myths about canine dental health, debunked with facts backed by veterinary experts (including organizations like the AVMA, AAHA, and AVDC), followed by realistic steps for proactive care. Myth 1: Bad Breath Is Normal for Dogs Why people believe it: “dog breath” is so common that it’s often treated as a normal part of having a pet. Reality: While a mild, natural odor is common, chronic foul breath is not normal. Persistent bad breath usually starts with bacterial buildup at the gumline and can be the first visible clue that oral disease is developing. Persistent halitosis is often an early sign of plaque, tartar, gingivitis, or even infection. Healthy dogs should have only a subtle scent - anything stronger warrants attention, as it can indicate underlying oral disease that impacts overall health. Myth 2: Dry Kibble Cleans Teeth Like a Toothbrush Why people believe it: kibble feels crunchy, so it’s easy to assume it “scrubs” teeth. Reality: Most standard dry kibble pieces break apart too quickly or are swallowed whole (especially in small breeds), so they rarely provide the consistent gumline contact needed to meaningfully disrupt plaque. In fact, starchy kibble can sometimes contribute to plaque buildup. Myth 3: Hard Bones, Antlers, or Rawhide Clean Teeth Effectively Why people believe it: dogs love tough chews, and they look like they’d act like “natural toothbrushes.” Reality: The problem is that ultra-hard items can exceed what teeth can safely tolerate - so the risk of tooth fractures, enamel damage, and even tooth loss can outweigh any surface-cleaning benefit. Veterinary dental organizations consistently warn against them. While they may feel like natural cleaners, they provide little true plaque removal and frequently lead to costly extractions. Myth 4: Human Toothpaste Is Safe for Dogs Why people believe it: toothpaste is toothpaste, right? Reality: The key difference is that dogs don’t spit - so anything used in their mouth must be safe to swallow and formulated for frequent use without irritating gums or the digestive system. Human toothpaste frequently contains fluoride or xylitol - both toxic if swallowed by dogs. Homemade alternatives like baking soda can be too abrasive, high in sodium, or irritating. Dogs need pet-specific toothpaste that's formulated to be safe for swallowing and gentle on their mouths. Myth 5: Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleanings Are Safer and Just as Effective Why people believe it: it sounds safer to avoid anesthesia, and the teeth can look cleaner afterward. Reality: The issue is that most dental disease lives below the gumline, and effective assessment and treatment typically require a full oral exam and cleaning where the dog is still and pain-free. These procedures are cosmetic only. They remove visible tartar above the gumline but miss hidden disease below it. Major organizations like the AVMA, AAHA, and AVDC do not recommend them for proper dental care, as they can cause stress, injury, or incomplete treatment without anesthesia and full evaluation. Myth 6: If Your Dog Eats Normally, Their Teeth Must Be Fine Why people believe it: appetite is often used as a proxy for health. Reality: Many dogs will keep eating despite significant dental discomfort, so relying on eating behavior alone can delay detection until disease is advanced. Dogs are masters at masking pain. Advanced periodontal disease can progress silently, with no obvious signs until it's severe. "Eating fine" doesn't mean healthy teeth - regular checkups are essential to catch issues early. Myth 7: Dental Problems Only Affect Old Dogs Why people believe it: we associate dental decline with “old age.” Reality: Periodontal disease often begins early in life. Plaque and tartar can accumulate by ages 1–3, particularly in small breeds. Early issues are subtle but progressive, so prevention should start young. These myths share a common consequence: delayed care that turns preventable problems into surgical ones. The good news? Proactive dental health is achievable with consistent, realistic habits. The Gold Standard: Start with Brushing Daily (or at least regular) brushing remains the most effective way to disrupt plaque at the gumline. But it must use a dog-safe toothpaste - never human varieties. That's why Arterra Pet developed our Remineralizing Toothpaste differently. This fluoride-free formula is 100% safe to swallow and features nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) - a NASA-developed mineral that mimics natural tooth enamel to support remineralization, strengthen teeth, and help reverse early damage. It goes beyond surface cleaning to promote long-term enamel and gum health, with a tasty peanut butter flavor dogs love. The Realistic Daily Boost: Dental Chews That Actually Support Health Let's be honest - daily brushing isn't always feasible long-term. Dogs resist, schedules get busy, and missed days add up. That's where quality dental chews shine: Dogs naturally chew for minutes daily, creating sustained contact for plaque disruption. But not all chews are equal. Many use dense starches, artificial dyes, or overly hard textures that pose risks without addressing root causes. Arterra Dental Chews were designed as a true health product, not just a treat. The key differentiator? Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) in a rod-shaped, biocompatible form (the safer, naturally occurring structure in teeth and bones - avoiding concerns with other shapes noted in safety studies). This helps remineralize enamel from within, not just scrub the surface. Combined with: Parsley, green tea, and cranberry for breath freshening, bacteria reduction, and gum support Organic kelp, turmeric, and alfalfa for minerals, antioxidants, and whole-body wellness Ridged design (from rice flour, tapioca, and pea starch) for mechanical cleaning without dangerous hardness Prebiotic support (banana and chicory root) to foster gut health and reduce inflammation linked to oral issues These chews provide a practical, enjoyable daily tool that strengthens teeth - even on non-brushing days - while supporting gums, breath, and overall vitality. We're committed to rigorous validation: Arterra Dental Chews are already in the market helping dogs nationwide, and we will be pursuing VOHC approval through dedicated studies to demonstrate their efficacy in plaque and tartar control. Take the Next Step Toward Better Dental Health Don't wait for bad breath, pain, or a vet's recommendation - start preventing issues today. Brushing with Arterra Remineralizing Toothpaste and adding our Dental Chews creates a powerful, realistic routine. Explore them now: Remineralizing Toothpaste Dental Chews Your dog's smile (and long-term health) will thank you. Consult your vet for personalized advice, and let's keep those tails wagging with healthy mouths! 🐶
The state of dog dental care often falls short of what our pets truly need for long-term oral health. Most products on the market prioritize surface-level cleaning - mechanical abrasion to remove plaque and freshen breath, while overlooking a critical aspect: actively supporting the strength and integrity of the teeth themselves. By the time visible issues like tartar buildup, gum inflammation, or tooth decay appear, veterinary intervention, often including professional cleanings or extractions under anesthesia, becomes the primary solution. Preventive daily care that addresses problems at their root is far more effective for maintaining healthy teeth and gums over a dog's lifetime. A New Approach to Preventive Canine Dental Care At Arterra Pet Science, we approached dental health differently by designing Arterra Dental Chews as a true health-supporting product rather than a simple treat. Our philosophy prioritizes biological efficacy first, practical daily use second, and cosmetic benefits (like fresh breath) last. This deliberate design addresses key gaps in conventional dental chews. Supporting Tooth Strength Through Remineralization Traditional dental chews rely primarily on physical scrubbing to dislodge plaque. While effective for surface cleaning, they do little to reinforce the tooth structure itself. Arterra Dental Chews incorporate nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp), a biocompatible mineral that mirrors the natural composition of enamel and dentin in teeth and bones. Nano-hydroxyapatite has been studied extensively in oral care (including veterinary applications) for its ability to promote remineralization - helping to repair early-stage enamel weaknesses and strengthen teeth at a microscopic level. This provides proactive support against demineralization, complementing mechanical cleaning for more comprehensive protection. Leveraging Natural Chewing Behavior for Oral Health Dogs instinctively chew for extended periods, creating sustained contact between active ingredients and tooth surfaces - far longer than brief brushing sessions or quick-dissolving treats allow. We engineered Arterra Dental Chews to align with this natural behavior, using the chew duration itself as an effective delivery mechanism for beneficial compounds. This sustained exposure maximizes the potential for remineralization and other supportive effects. Optimal Texture: Firm Enough to Clean, Gentle Enough to Protect Chew hardness presents a common tradeoff: overly rigid chews risk dental fractures, while soft ones break down too quickly to provide meaningful abrasion or contact time. Arterra chews strike a balanced middle ground - chewy and firm enough to engage teeth and massage gums effectively, yet yielding to avoid excessive force or digestive concerns. The ridged texture promotes mechanical cleaning while supporting safe, enjoyable chewing. Clean, Purposeful Ingredients Without Unnecessary Fillers Many dental chews use dense starch blocks, artificial dyes, binders, and fillers that offer limited nutritional value and may not digest optimally - especially problematic in a daily product. Arterra avoids these entirely, opting for cleaner, functional components that contribute meaningfully to health. A Functional Base That Supports Gut Health Rather than inert fillers, the chew base incorporates prebiotic fibers from sources like banana powder and chicory root. These nourish the gut microbiome by feeding beneficial bacteria, promoting a balanced intestinal environment. Emerging research highlights the gut-oral axis, where a healthy microbiome can indirectly support reduced systemic inflammation, including in oral tissues. Holistic Oral Support, Including Gum Health While fresh breath is a welcome side effect - achieved naturally through ingredients like parsley, green tea extract, and cranberry - our focus extends to gum health. Botanicals such as organic kelp, turmeric, and alfalfa provide minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties to help maintain healthy gums, recognizing the interconnected role of gums, teeth, and overall wellness. A Complementary Tool in a Comprehensive Dental Care Routine Arterra Dental Chews are not intended to replace professional veterinary dental care or regular brushing - the gold standard for oral hygiene. Instead, they serve as a realistic, evidence-informed daily addition for households where consistent brushing may be challenging. When used as part of a broader preventive routine, they help bridge the gap between occasional interventions and proactive support. The Science-Driven Mission Behind Arterra Pet Science This biologically driven, practical approach guides every aspect of Arterra Dental Chews, reflecting our broader mission at Arterra Pet Science: empowering dogs to live longer, healthier lives through science-backed wellness. The founder’s personal experience - extending a beloved dog's life by over five years with a tailored regimen, keeping him cancer-free, sharp, and active into his late teens - inspired the creation of Arterra. We aim to make advanced, thoughtful care accessible to every dog owner. Discover how Arterra Dental Chews can support your dog's oral and whole-body health: Order your first pack here. Consult your veterinarian to ensure this fits your pet's individual needs.
Help Shape the Future of Canine Wellness with Arterra Pet Science. At Arterra Pet Science, we're committed to providing the most comprehensive, all-in-one daily dog supplement to ensure a healthier, longer life for our canine companions. Our ongoing dedication to excellence and innovation in pet health is why we're excited to announce our new clinical study exclusively for senior dogs aged 8 years and older, based in Austin. Why Participate? This study is an essential step in further validating the impressive clinical results our supplements have shown and offering new insights into the wellness advancements Arterra delivers. By participating, you will not only contribute to the science that helps all dogs live better lives but also receive exclusive benefits: Free Three-Month Supply of Arterra’s Senior Dog Supplement. Complimentary Lab Work including two blood tests. Expert Veterinary Care with two free vet visits throughout the study. Zero Cost — The study is 100% funded by Arterra, ensuring no expenses for you. Assured Safety for Your Beloved Pet We prioritize your dog's health and safety above all. Every ingredient in our supplement has been vet-formulated, science-backed and quality-tested, ensuring the Arterra supplement is 100% safe for your pet. Study Overview Phase 1: Baseline Assessment — We document your dog's current weight, health status, dietary habits, and any medications or supplements.Phase 2: Treatment Period — Initiation of the Arterra supplement tailored to your dog’s weight, along with regular monitoring and veterinary assessments.Phase 3: Post-Treatment Evaluation — A final evaluation to compare health outcomes from start to finish, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the supplement’s effects. Your Role in Advancing Dog Health As a participant, you’ll be asked to maintain a simple daily log of your dog’s behavior, appetite, and overall well-being, alongside scheduled vet visits for health assessments and blood work. This detailed monitoring helps us ensure the highest impact of our supplement. Sign Up Today! If you're an Austin-based dog owner with a senior pet, we invite you to join this groundbreaking study. Your participation will be instrumental in enhancing canine health innovations and could potentially add joyful, active years to your dog's life. Spaces are limited, so don't miss this opportunity to be part of something that can significantly improve canine health standards. For more information and to register your interest, please contact our PAZ Veterinary Arterra study coordinator directly at (512) 236-8000 or email us at support@arterrapet.com. Let's work together to make a lasting impact on the well-being of our beloved pets!
2024 is poised for an explosion of consumer and investor interest in the burgeoning canine longevity space. I believe that Arterra, together with two other companies, Loyal and Leap Years, currently represent the three most compelling approaches to extend and enhance canine lifespan. As a passionate dog lover and advocate for healthier canine aging, I’m first and foremost excited that, for the first time, our space has three quality companies pursuing distinct paths in support of this mission, and that all of us – in my humble opinion – are doing good work. Last month I addressed in detail how Arterra’s whole-body approach to canine wellness compares and contrasts to Loyal’s pharmaceutical path. Today, I’d like to deep dive into how our products compare to Leap Years’. Leap Year’s Approach Leap Year’s products are comprised of just two active ingredients, LY-D2, an NAD+ precursor, and LY-D6, a flavonoid compound that acts as a senolytic agent. Because their ingredients are patented, we don’t have full transparency into exactly what they are, but their patent application gives several clues. Without going down a very deep rabbit hole that I suspect would make most readers’ eyes glaze over, let’s accept their own high-level summary of their two compounds. Their approach is twofold: Boost NAD+ levels to increase cellular energy production, which drives a downstream host of benefits in areas such as cognition, energy/vitality, cardiovascular health, and regulating inflammation. Support the clearance of senescent (old and dysfunctional) cells via a senolytic flavonoid compound. These are two powerful strategies that I would expect to produce a range of healthspan-promoting benefits. To Leap Years’ strong credit, they’ve nearly finished validating these benefits with a clinical study due this spring (Arterra’s will follow a few months behind, this fall). My review, in short, is that they have an excellent product that likely works as advertised. But I also believe that it’s very expensive for what it is, and that Arterra’s products represent not only a superior and more comprehensive approach to healthy canine aging, but also a better value for the money. I’ll explain why. Arterra’s Approach As a starting point, I think it’s important to establish that our formulas — similarly to Leap Years — also contain senolytic polyphenols and flavanoids (notably quercetin, resveratrol, trans-pterostilbene, turmeric, and green tea-derived catechins). Further, assuming a dog is consuming a nutritionally complete diet with adequate sources of Vitamin B3 and the amino acid tryptophan, our flavanoids also support the conversion of these precursor molecules into metabolically active NAD+. So in a meaningful way, both Arterra and Leap Years provide overlapping benefits for these two dimensions of aging. With this said, our approach to healthy aging is much broader and more aggressive than theirs. We believe that the body is an astonishingly complex system, and that modern science has not yet discovered any one or two “silver bullets” capable of supporting healthy aging alone. But what we do have is a pharmacopeia of dozens of well-studied, naturally occurring molecules that individually help chip away at the problem of aging through multiple strategies, vectors, and pathways, and which together produce an entourage effect greater than the sum of their parts. To this end, Arterra’s flagship Adult and Senior formulas are comprised of 46 and 63 science-backed ingredients spanning eight functional domains, each supported through multiple pathways. These are: Longevity – Focused on epigenetic activation of the SIRT1 and AMPK pathways, mitochondrial health, reducing formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and senolytic agents to help the body clear senescent cells. Check out our blog posts for deeper dives into these topics. Joint Support and Comfort – Supporting the underlying structural health of the joints through high doses of collagen, including bone broth-derived Type II Collagen, by promoting hydration within the joints, reducing inflammation, supporting tendon and ligament strength and recovery, and reducing discomfort from age-related degeneration of cartilage. Cognition and Mood – Supporting in parallel the underlying health of the brain by increasing BDNF, NGF, synaptic density, and circulation, while increasing the availability of neurotransmitters involved in positive mood, energy, and motivation. Organ Support – Supporting the healthy function of the liver, heart, and vascular system. Immune support – A multi-pronged approach to a healthy immune system, with target benefits ranging from relief of occasional seasonal allergies to preventative support for more serious immune-related conditions. Gut Health – Formulated first to improve the integrity of the gut and intestinal lining (aka “leaky gut” support – a widespread issue for dogs fed a standard American kibble diet), with additional pre- and pro-biotic support for a healthy microbiome. Healthy Stress Response – A potent blend of adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms to help the body cope with environmental and physical stress through increased stamina and recovery, and decreased production of cortisol (a damaging stress hormone when overexpressed). Antioxidant Support – To reduce oxidative stress in synergistic harmony with the rest of our formula. For a deeper dive into our complete formula, check out the Ingredient Explorer on our product page. Any one of these systems can be a critical point of failure for a dog’s longevity or quality of life, which is why we’ve carefully designed our formula to support all of them in harmony. We’ve further formulated with a philosophical eye toward what I like to call “hardware,” and “software” support, with the former class of ingredients supporting the structures, building blocks, and resilience of a given system, and the latter supporting its metabolic programming via epigenetic modulation, cell metabolism, and other factors. Together, I believe Arterra’s approach represents the most comprehensive, powerful, and efficacious canine supplement ever brought to market. Arterra vs. Leap Years Let’s first bump the two overlapping areas of our formula head-to-head – as a senolytic, and as an NAD+ booster. Based on the information that can be gleaned from Leap Years’ patent, as a senolytic stack I would expect the performance of our formula to be roughly in line with theirs. In good faith, I would call this measure a tie. However, as an NAD+ booster, specifically, their product is almost certainly superior, though ours does still provide notable coverage here. So on this one metric, they win. But I believe strongly that Leap Years’ one likely advantage in NAD+ promotion is vastly offset and surpassed by our multi-pronged approach to whole-body anti-aging. In fact, we looked heavily at this exact question when developing our formula with our veterinary partners. We carefully explored including NAD+ precursors such as NMN, NR, or NADH, but found that the cost of including this one great ingredient was so expensive that we could literally include 20 other very good ones for the same price. When confronted with this tradeoff, I made the mission-driven decision to take this deal and opt for breadth. And given the unparalleled scope of benefit coverage this tradeoff empowered – unmatched by Leap Years or any other competitor – I maintain that it was a good one. Finally, a fair comparison of our two products must consider price. Both Arterra and Leap Years’ products are expensive relative to legacy pet supplement brands, and necessarily so due to the cost of our premium ingredients. Leap Years’ pricing ranges from $31/month for small dogs to $117/month for extra-large breeds. This puts their pricing roughly in line with our 46-ingredient Adult Formula (which can also be given to seniors), which starts at $25/month for small dogs and rises to $99 for large breeds. Given Arterra’s vastly broader range of functional benefits over Leap Years’, and considering the overlapping coverage of broad senolytic support between the two products, as well as Arterra’s (admittedly weaker, but still noteworthy) NAD+ support, I believe our Adult Formula represents a dramatically superior value for the money – one that I strongly expect will drive more powerful and observable improvements in quality of life. Taking the comparison a step further, Arterra’s more expensive flagship 63-ingredient Senior Formula dials up the volume on everything in our preventative Adult Formula, while adding an additional class of ingredients focused specifically on quality-of-life improvements for older dogs already experiencing the consequences of degenerative aging. These ingredients were selected to help your older dog feel more comfortable in their aging body and mind. I am deeply proud of this product, and believe that — beyond a quality diet —it is today the single most powerful intervention for healthy canine aging available on the market at any price. Our Senior Formula is, however, quite expensive, ranging from $50/month for small dogs up to $160/month for large breeds. In this regard it is indeed a modst step up in price from Leap Years’ product, but also in breadth and, I believe, efficacy. Our confidence in the ability of both Arterra formulas to drive obvious results is so strong that we back them with a 100% moneyback guarantee. If you can’t see a positive change in your dog within 30 days, we’ll refund your purchase price without hassle. This is notably a guarantee that Leap Years does not offer. And since our launch three months ago, less than 2% of our customers have taken us up on it, which tells us (and hopefully you too) a lot about the performance of what we’ve created. In summary, I believe that Leap Years has launched an excellent product, but that our Adult Formula is a better and more effective value for the money. And for those wanting to max out what’s possible within the natural pharmacopeia for their older dogs, our Senior Formula offers an even more powerful solution that’s unrivaled on the market at any price. Our clinical study is underway and won’t be completed until this fall, so until the results are published I’ll have to ask you to take my word on good faith. But I hope that for the interim, I’ve done a thorough and fair job of substantiating why I believe this to be the case. I respect Leap Years and believe their team is smart, thoughtful, and sincere. I also believe the market for healthy canine aging is in its infancy and poised for explosive growth, and that there’s plenty of room for both brands to thrive commercially while delivering on our missions. And so it’s in the spirit of transparency, consumer education, and healthy competition that I’ve made this comparison between our products. If anyone in the community believes I’ve been unfair in my analysis, inaccurate in my science, or otherwise missed something important, don’t hesitate to reach me directly at jonathan@arterrapet.com. Jonathan Willbanks Founder & CEO Arterra Pet Science
After nearly two years of behind the scenes work, we launched Arterra last month – the first canine supplement specifically designed to increase canine healthspan. Earlier this week, pharmaceutical startup Loyal announced their plans to begin an FDA trial for a drug designed to increase lifespan in large dogs. Given the strong overlap between our companies’ missions, my inbox was quickly flooded with inquiries about how our product compares to theirs. So I thought I’d write a post sharing my thoughts on the important similarities and differences between Arterra and Loyal’s approach.
Just like humans, dogs can suffer cognitive decline, depression, and dementia in their old age. For owners of senior dogs, watching your friend’s mental faculties, energy, and mood start to fade away can be one of the hardest parts of their golden years, and among the most detrimental to their quality of life.
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