What does a Pharaoh Hound owner need to know about dental care? In two sentences: this 45–55 pound Maltese coursing hound carries the classic sighthound-family combination of a fine, wedge-shaped muzzle and gum tissue that rewards close watching, so its dental plan should run a notch more vigilant than its medium size implies. Daily plaque control, weekly gum checks, and scheduled veterinary cleanings form the core of it.
At Ark Naturals, we've spent over 25 years crafting dental chews in the USA, and elegant, athletic breeds like the Pharaoh Hound are exactly who we had in mind when we built products around different weight classes. Here's our take on keeping that famous smile — the one that comes with a blushing nose — in top shape.
A closer look at the Pharaoh Hound's head and bite
Malta's national dog is built like a sculpture: a long, chiseled wedge of a skull, only a slight stop, and a powerful scissors bite. The jaws are strong for coursing rabbits over rocky terrain, yet the overall bone structure of the muzzle is refined and relatively slender, as it is across the sighthound family.
That refinement matters for dental planning. Slimmer jawbone means less structural cushion when periodontal disease starts eroding the bone around tooth roots, especially along the lower arcade. And while the Pharaoh Hound is a hardy, generally healthy breed with few documented disorders, veterinary dentists consistently urge extra periodontal attention across sighthound-type dogs, whose gums and tartar patterns tend to run ahead of the calendar. The American Veterinary Dental College points out that by the time gum disease is visible to owners, meaningful damage may already exist below the surface — a caution that fits this breed well.
Good news is baked into the anatomy too. The Pharaoh Hound's long mouth gives every tooth breathing room, so crowding, rotated premolars, and retained puppy teeth are non-issues here. Short, tight coat means no beard trapping gunk against the lips. Access for brushing is about as easy as it gets.
Dental risks worth planning around
Gum disease that outpaces expectations
The pattern to respect: tartar creeping along the upper premolars, a red inflamed margin where gum meets enamel, and gradual attachment loss — sometimes beginning in young adulthood. Because Pharaoh Hounds are stoic and food-motivated, they'll typically keep eating normally straight through moderate dental pain, hiding the problem.
Chipped incisors and canines from the chase
These dogs hit 30+ mph and grab moving things. Lure coursing, fetch on hard ground, and enthusiastic fence-line sprinting occasionally cost a sighthound a chipped incisor or worn canine tip. Minor enamel chips may just need monitoring; anything that exposes the darker inner tooth structure needs your veterinarian's eyes.
Thin-skinned lips and gum abrasions
The breed's tight, thin facial skin extends to relatively delicate oral tissue. Rough-textured or overly hard chew items can abrade gums that heal more visibly than on thicker-lipped breeds — another argument for choosing chews with controlled, moderate texture.
Assembling the daily routine
Brushing an athlete who'd rather be running
Pharaoh Hounds are affectionate at home but independent-minded. The winning formula is routine: same time, same spot, same reward. Thirty seconds per side with an enzymatic dog toothpaste, angled into the gum line, covers the surfaces that matter most. The AVMA's pet dental care page is a solid primer if brushing is new to your household. If your hound blushes — that famous rosy ear-and-nose glow — mid-brushing, take it as a compliment.
The chew layer, sized correctly
A dog of 45–55 pounds needs a chew scaled for real jaw work. Our DENTA-METER system on every Ark Naturals package matches chew size to body weight, so the gnawing lasts long enough for the ridged texture to scrub plaque. Two ways we'd slot our products into a Pharaoh Hound's week: a starter regimen built on Brushless Toothpaste chews — the full size range lives in our shop-all-dogs collection — or an advanced regimen with Soft Shield Protection+, which adds Asta-Shield, our astaxanthin antioxidant with documented free-radical activity, in a softer bite that's kind to sensitive gums. Everything is USA-made without artificial flavors or colors, fine for pups 12 weeks and up.
Lean coursing breeds run light on body fat by design, so keep an eye on total treat calories; a quick conversation with your veterinarian settles the right daily allowance.
Weekly inspection, honestly done
Once a week, flip the lips and scan: gum color at the margins, tartar starting near the salivary duct openings by the upper fourth premolars, any chips on the front teeth after a big running weekend. Two minutes, potentially years of teeth saved.
Professional cleanings and sighthound anesthesia
Plan on an annual veterinary oral exam, with anesthetized cleanings as recommended — possibly more often than average for the sighthound family. Because lean breeds process some anesthetics differently, veterinary teams tailor drug choices and monitoring for them; mention your dog's breed when scheduling and ask what protocol adjustments they make. It's a routine conversation, and it shouldn't deter you from needed dental work.
When the mouth needs a professional
Book a veterinary visit if you spot:
- A persistent bad smell despite chews and brushing
- Bleeding along the gum line or pink-tinged saliva
- A chipped or discolored tooth after a run
- Reluctance to tug, fetch, or carry toys
- Visible tartar in a dog under three
- Any loose tooth
Early-stage gingivitis is reversible. Everything after it is management. Timing is everything with this breed group.
Pharaoh Hound dental FAQ
Do Pharaoh Hounds have the same dental problems as Greyhounds?
They share the sighthound family's general tendencies — refined jaw structure and gum tissue that merits early, consistent care — though the Pharaoh Hound is overall a robust breed without the extensively documented dental severity seen in some racing Greyhound lines. Treat the risk as elevated-but-manageable and let your veterinarian grade your individual dog.
What's the best age to introduce dental chews?
From 12 weeks onward, in the size matching the puppy's current weight — recheck the size as a fast-growing hound moves up weight classes. Pair chews with mouth-handling practice so that by adulthood, brushing, chewing, and inspections are all unremarkable parts of life.
My Pharaoh Hound chipped a tooth chasing a lure. Emergency or not?
It depends what's exposed. A small enamel flake with no color change underneath can usually wait for a scheduled exam — photograph it and monitor. If you see a pink or dark spot at the chip's center, that's likely exposed pulp, which is painful and infection-prone: call your veterinarian the same day.
How do I keep breath fresh between cleanings?
Attack the source, which is bacterial plaque. Daily brushing plus a daily dental chew handles most halitosis; our Brushless line was named for exactly this job, with a toothpaste center formulated for breath. Odor that persists through good home care is a medical signal — have the mouth examined rather than masking the smell.
Are water additives or sprays enough on their own?
They're adjuncts, not foundations. Mechanical plaque removal — bristles and chewing — does the heavy lifting, with products evaluated by the Veterinary Oral Health Council offering evidence-backed options across categories. Build on brushing and chews first, then add extras your veterinarian endorses.
The Pharaoh Hound has been smiling at humans for a few thousand years; a modern dental routine keeps that grin intact. Start with a properly sized chew from our complete collection, add the toothbrush, and let your veterinary team handle the rest.