Caring for a Lagotto Romagnolo's teeth means managing a medium-sized, well-proportioned jaw that spends an unusual amount of time in the dirt. This Italian truffle dog has no strongly documented breed-specific dental disorders, so the smartest plan is a consistent plaque-control routine built around its 24–35 pound frame and its famously busy mouth.
We've spent more than 25 years at Ark Naturals making dental chews here in the USA, and the Lagotto is one of those breeds where good habits matter more than genetics. Here's how we'd build a routine for one.
Why the Lagotto's mouth works so hard
The Lagotto Romagnolo was bred first as a water retriever in the marshes of Romagna and later refined into the world's premier truffle-hunting dog. That history shows up in how this breed uses its mouth: digging, rooting through soil, carrying finds back to you, and gnawing whatever it unearths along the way.
Structurally, the Lagotto has a fairly classic mesocephalic skull — a muzzle of moderate length with a scissors bite and a full set of 42 adult teeth that generally have room to sit where they should. Compared with a toy breed's crowded mouth or a flat-faced dog's rotated premolars, that's a genuine advantage. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, though, most dogs of every size show some evidence of dental disease by age three, so a tidy bite is a head start rather than a free pass.
One practical wrinkle: that dense, curly coat grows right up around the lips and chin. Moisture and food debris can linger in the facial furnishings, and a damp beard pressed against the gum line all day doesn't do oral hygiene any favors. Wiping the muzzle after meals and water breaks is a small habit with a real payoff.
The main dental risks for a medium, high-drive forager
Plaque and tartar on the schedule every dog keeps
Plaque begins forming on a clean tooth within hours, and if it isn't disrupted it mineralizes into tartar in a matter of days. For a medium breed like the Lagotto, the cheek teeth — especially the big upper fourth premolars — collect the heaviest deposits because they do the grinding work. Left alone, that buildup progresses toward gingivitis and eventually periodontal disease, which the American Veterinary Dental College identifies as the most common clinical condition in adult dogs.
Wear and chips from a digging lifestyle
A truffle dog's teeth meet a lot of abrasive material: sandy soil, small stones, roots, and the occasional stolen stick. Over years, that can produce visible wear on the incisors and canines, and an enthusiastic chomp on something too hard can chip or slab-fracture a premolar. Fractures that expose the pulp are painful and need veterinary attention promptly, so it's worth glancing at your dog's teeth after big digging sessions.
Foreign material lodged in the mouth
Dogs that forage tend to wedge things where they don't belong — bark splinters between molars, plant awns in the gums. Pawing at the face, sudden drooling, or reluctance to eat after outdoor time deserves a look inside the mouth, and a call to your veterinarian if you can't see or safely remove the culprit.
Building the Lagotto's daily dental routine
Brushing: the gold standard, made tolerable
Daily brushing with a dog-specific enzymatic toothpaste remains the single most effective thing you can do at home. Lagotti are clever, biddable dogs that respond beautifully to short training sessions, so treat brushing like any other trick: a few seconds of lifted lip and a swipe of paste at first, building toward a full 30–60 seconds per side. Focus on the outer surfaces along the gum line, where plaque does its damage. If you're starting with an adult who's skeptical, your veterinarian or their team can demonstrate technique at the next visit.
Dental chews for the days brushing doesn't happen
We're realists — some evenings the toothbrush loses to life. That's exactly why we developed our chews. For a Lagotto in the 24–35 pound range, our Brushless Toothpaste dental chews for 20–40 lb dogs are a natural fit: a textured outer ridge scrubs as your dog gnaws, while the toothpaste center goes to work on breath. Check our DENTA-METER on the package to match the chew to your dog's weight, and count the calories toward the daily total.
For dogs that have graduated to a more advanced level of protection, Soft Shield Protection+ adds Asta-Shield — our astaxanthin antioxidant, one of the more studied carotenoids in antioxidant research — in a softer texture that suits dogs who prefer less resistance. Seniors and power-chewers alike tend to appreciate the option. Everything we make is produced in the USA with no artificial flavors or colors, and our chews are suitable for dogs 12 weeks and older.
Chews complement brushing; they don't replace professional care. Products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal have met defined plaque or tartar standards — you can browse the VOHC accepted products list to see how these evaluations work.
The weekly and yearly layers
Once a week, do a 60-second mouth check: lift the lips, look for red gum margins, chipped teeth, or deposits that look like brown cement. Once a year — or on whatever schedule your veterinarian recommends — book an oral exam, and expect that most dogs will eventually need professional cleanings under anesthesia to address tartar below the gum line, where no chew or brush can reach.
When to call the vet about your Lagotto's mouth
Contact your veterinary clinic if you notice any of the following:
- Breath that turns suddenly or persistently foul
- Bleeding gums, or a red line where gum meets tooth
- Dropping kibble, chewing on one side, or a new preference for soft food
- A cracked, discolored, or loose tooth
- Swelling below the eye, which can signal an abscessed upper premolar
- Pawing at the muzzle after digging or retrieving
None of these are wait-and-see signs. Dental pain is easy for dogs to hide and easy for veterinarians to treat when caught early.
Lagotto Romagnolo dental FAQ
At what age should I start brushing my Lagotto's teeth?
Start handling the mouth in puppyhood, ideally the week your puppy comes home. Adult teeth erupt between roughly four and six months, and a dog that learned to accept a toothbrush as a baby will tolerate it for life. Our chews can join the routine any time after 12 weeks.
Do Lagotti have more dental problems than other breeds?
No elevated breed-specific dental risk is documented for the Lagotto Romagnolo. Their medium size and moderate muzzle put them at average risk — which still means plaque, tartar, and eventual periodontal disease without regular care. The breed's digging habits add some extra wear-and-fracture watchfulness.
My Lagotto's beard always smells. Is that a dental problem?
Sometimes it's just a wet beard, but don't assume. Wash and dry the facial furnishings, then sniff the breath directly. If odor is coming from inside the mouth, have your veterinarian take a look — persistent halitosis usually points to bacterial buildup along or below the gum line.
How many dental chews can I give per day?
Follow the feeding directions on the package for your dog's weight — for most dogs that's one chew daily. Treats and chews together should stay under about 10% of daily calories; your veterinarian can help you fine-tune portions if your Lagotto is watching its waistline.
Will digging in dirt actually damage teeth?
Gradually, yes — abrasive soil can wear enamel over many years, and hard buried objects can chip teeth in an instant. You won't (and shouldn't) stop a Lagotto from doing what it was bred to do, so channel digging into a sand pit or soft garden bed when you can, and check the mouth after ambitious excavation projects.
A Lagotto Romagnolo that's brushed regularly, offered a daily dental chew, and seen by a veterinarian on schedule can keep its working mouth in working order well into its senior years. We'd love to be part of that routine — explore our full dental lineup on the Ark Naturals shop-all page and find the right fit for your truffle hunter.