Brighter Bites Blog
Our Brighter Bites Blog offers trusted pet advice on dental care, health tips, and lifestyle articles! Whether you're new to pet parenting or a lifelong advocate, we're here to help create a lifetime full of smiles, belly rubs, and tail-wagging experiences.
Pet’s Professional Teeth Cleaning - What to Expect
Just like humans, dogs and cats need regular dental exams and cleanings as part of their overall healthcare routine. While you can do your part at home by brushing your pet’s teeth...
National Pet Dental Health Month 2024
Many of us might have spent December and January setting goals and making plans for the new year, but February is the time to turn our attention to our pets’ teeth and...
Fall Allergies in Dogs: What Pet Parents Should Know
Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing, and—for many of us—a new fall allergy season is beginning. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who experience seasonal allergies, you might be familiar...
October is National Pet Wellness Month! 6 Ways to Provide the Best Care for Your Pet
The month of October may conjure up images of ghouls, goblins, and jack-o’-lanterns, but pet parents have another reason to celebrate: It’s National Pet Wellness Month! Sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical...
How Much Water Should A Dog Drink? What to Know About Keeping Your Dog Hydrated
Just like humans, dogs need plenty of water to stay healthy. Water is essential to virtually every body function: It helps transport oxygen and nutrients through the bloodstream, aids in digestion, lubricates...
The Raw Truth About Rawhide: Is Rawhide Bad for Dogs?
It’s no secret that dogs love rawhide chews. But is rawhide bad for dogs? Dogs have a natural need to chew. For puppies, chewing is a way to explore the world around...
Wholesome Treat or Doggy Junk Food? Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Treats
Dog treats come in all shapes and sizes, and you likely have a variety of treats handy to give your pup as a reward, as a training tool, and for positive reinforcement....
Fireworks and Your Furry Friends: A Guide to your 4th of July
The Fourth of July is a special day full of friends, family, cookouts and of course fireworks. Many pet owners have to worry about how their dog will handle the loud sounds...
Hiking With Dogs: Essential Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe on the Trail
As summertime approaches and temperatures rise, humans and dogs alike look forward to spending more time outdoors. Hiking is a great way to get some exercise while exploring nature, and taking your...
What to Expect at Your New Pet’s First Vet Visit
Bringing home a new dog or cat? Congratulations! Adding a new pet to your home is an exciting time, and no doubt requires a lot of preparation. You’ve likely bought food, bowls,...
How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth | 6 Simple Steps to Cleaner, Healthier Teeth
You have probably heard that the most common disease in dogs is periodontal disease—inflammation in the gums caused by tartar buildup, which can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, painful infections, and...
Pet Treats as Dental Care: All You Need to Know
Your pet loves treats. You love your pet. And with periodontal disease being the most common disease affecting cats and dogs—more than 80% of dogs and cats over age three show signs...
How to choose the perfect pet for your lifestyle
Americans love their pets. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), in 2017, 68% of U.S. households, or about 85 million families, owned a pet. This number has been steadily increasing...
Summertime is a great time to be outside and enjoy the warm weather. However, it is important to remember that with the good weather comes some potential dangers for our pets. Here...
Simple ways humans and pets create Happiness
Companionship and unconditional love are two of the biggest benefits that come with owning a pet. Pets provide us with hours of joy and laughter, and they are always there to offer...
In the United States, National Pet Month is celebrated in April. It was created to encourage responsible pet ownership and to celebrate the human-animal bond. Pets provide companionship and unconditional love, and...
What to consider when choosing a new vet?
The decision to find a new veterinarian is not an easy one. Whether you are moving to a new area, looking for a vet who specializes in a particular area, or aren't...
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), approximately 57% of households in the United States own at least one pet. That's a lot of furry and feathered friends who need our...
Can Good Oral Health lead to a longer life?
Everyone has heard of brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing, but how many people know about pet dental care? Regular dental visits and the use of toothpaste and toothbrushes can...
Spring is on it's way: What does that mean for your pet?
Spring is on the way and with the changing seasons comes new responsibilities for pet owners. This is good news for pet owners who dread the cold but also want to enjoy...
What Does VOHC Mean for Pet Parents?
Nearly half of Americans now share their lives with a furry friend, which can come with its own benefits. However, pet owners are often unaware of the importance of dental care for...
Healthy Teeth Inflammation of the gums in response to the presence of tartar and bacteria. You may observe some swelling of the gums. A thin red line on the gums next to...
National Train Your Dog Month is a time to educate people on the benefits of training their pets. Training provides you with the ability to communicate and teach your dog obedience, manners,...
Toys and gifts are a great way to show your pet you care about them during the holiday season. Not only are they enjoyable for your dog or cat, they provide mental...
This is a quick and easy project for those who are looking to make a festive decoration for their Christmas tree. It can be done in about 15 minutes with only three...
So you are getting a new dog! Congratulations! You’re in for the best time of your life. As you may know, raising a dog is not an easy task, but it is...
Awareness of pet cancer has been growing in recent years. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that nearly half of all dogs and cats will be diagnosed with some form of cancer...
In humans, our oral health plays a major role in not just our visual appearance but also our overall health and wellness and the same is true about our pets. Did you...
National Pet Health Insurance Month is celebrated every September by veterinarians and shelters across the USA and Canada each year. This month-long celebration is all about our furry friends and how pet...
Healthy and Happy Pets on Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day Weekend is just around the corner, which means it is almost time to start the activities that bring us a weekend full of community and fun as we celebrate all...
National Immunization Awareness Month
We at Tartar Shield know how important your pet's health is and that is why we have developed some of the best dental pet products on the market. August is a time...
What does Back to School Mean for Your Pet?
As the summer comes to an end we start preparing for back-to-school with school supplies and schedule planning. This can be a crazy time for not only parents and their children but...
Why Should I buy American Made Products?
As pet lovers, we recognize the importance of finding quality treats for our pets that are made in the USA with US ingredients, but how does buying American Made products make a...
Summertime brings us fun days in the sun, but how does that affect our pets when they tag along for the ride? Whether you run into the store to grab something or...
June is National Adopt a Cat Month and this encourages those looking for a new pet to consider adopting a cat. Here’s a few reasons why cats make great pets! Cats are quiet,...
Spring is almost here! If you are planning a garden, here are a few tips to make it fun and safe for your cat to enjoy. Choose plants carefully – Do you...
Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, and everyone loves their pets! Some Valentine’s Day traditions can be enjoyable for humans, but dangerous to pets. Share the love and keep pets...
National Animal Safety & Protection Month
October is National Animal Safety and Protection Month. One of the best ways to protect your pet’s health is through routine preventative care. Annual visits to your veterinarian are an important component...
National Immunization Awareness Month
August was National Immunization Awareness Month. This event was created in order to spread awareness about the importance of vaccinations for your pets. As a pet owner, they depend on you to...
Summer Cuts: Not the Best Way to Beat The Heat
As a responsible pet parent, you want to do everything you can to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and safe. When you look at your dog covered in thick layers...
National Lost Pet Prevention Month
July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month. As a pet owner, one of the worst experiences you can have is looking for an escaped pet. Whether the door is left open too...
How to Safely Introduce Dogs to Water
Many dogs love the water, especially during the hot summer months. For some, the ability to enjoy a nice swim comes naturally, but other dogs need to build confidence in the water! ...
Protecting Your Dog During Summer Months
The summer months bring later evenings, exciting outside activities, and hot days. Here are five tips to keep in mind for your dog during those hot days: Plan to take walks during...
Does Your Pet Have Seasonal Allergies?
Unfortunately for many people spring time brings itchy, watery eyes, runny noses, and lots of sneezing. What you may not know is that many pets suffer from seasonal allergies as well. The...
Dog parks are a great place for your canine companion to get exercise and socialize. Here’s some things to keep in mind when visiting the dog park this spring: Make sure your...
Whether you regularly produce award winning crops or you’re starting your first garden, it’s important to know which plants to avoid for the safety of your dog. It can be easy to...
Things to Consider When Adopting a Puppy
You’ve made the decision that you want to adopt a puppy. How exciting! You’ve got names picked out. You know which potty training strategies you’ll try. You’ve probably stalked all the available...