5 Tips For Looking After Your Dog’s Teeth
We all love it when we can get a big doggie smile and we love to see our dogs happy and healthy. While diet and exercise are important ways to keep your dog in great physical shape, we often neglect our dogs teeth. However,dogs can still develop problems like tartar and plaque buildup and gingivitis, just like humans can and this can effect how long they keep their teeth in good chomping condition. Also, canine dental problems can actually lead to life-threatening infections and issues including heart, liver, and kidney disease, just like with people, so it is important to consider the health of your dogs teeth. Veterinarians report that an estimated 85 percent of dogs over age 4 are suffering from some form of periodontal disease, a painful oral condition that can lead to tooth loss and infection.
How
can you tell if your dog has issues with their teeth, because even if
your pooch is suffering from a toothache or sore gums, they are
unlikely to show much sign of the issue. The first hint is likely to
be their bad breath. We think that it is only natural for dogs to
have bad breath, but in fact this is most likely a sign of tooth
decay and poor dental hygiene above and beyond what is healthy for
dogs. You should also look out for reddened, bleeding or swollen
gums, crusted yellow-brown tartar build-up on the teeth and drooling
you’re your dog has severe gingivitis you might also notice them
dropping food when they eat, eating on one side of their mouth, or
not eating at all, which can all lead to weight loss. While you’re
giving their mouth a good once over, look for fractured, discoloured
or missing teeth and lumps and bumps on their gum line and make sure
their jaw itself isn’t swollen or misshapen.
1.Brush your Dogs Teeth
This
could possibly seem a bit weird to most of us, just because we are
not used to thinking of brushing our dog’s teeth, but it is
increasingly more common and a really good idea. Vets suggest that
while daily is best, it could be a bit tricky to manage, so aim for
three to four times per week if you can get your dog to cooperate.
And we say cooperate, because most dogs aren’t too fond of the idea
at first, but you can easily train your dog to have their teeth
brushed the same way you would to have their nails
trimmed. Eventually
with coaxing and giving them treats and encouragement, your dog will
become more comfortable with getting their teeth brushed.
A
really important thing to do before attempting to brush your dogs
teeth is to invest in the proper tools of the trade. You may not
know it, but human toothpaste is actually toxic to dogs and
definitely can’t be used for brushing your dog’s teeth. Invest in
dog toothpaste and finger brush kit, which will make the job a lot
easier and ensure there are no harmful side effects for your dog.
2. Eat Kibble
Just like with humans, what you give your
dog to eat will also affect the health of their teeth. Soft tinned
food can be really bad for your dog’s teeth and gums, the doggie
equivalent of drinking a gallon of soda and eating a tonne of
candies. Crunchy kibble is better for your dog’s teeth than soft
food, as soft food is more likely to stick to the teeth and cause
decay. The best way to find a good kibble for your dog, especially
one that will be good for their teeth is to look for a label with the
"VOHC-approved" stamp on any dental-cleansing product,
which means they meet the tooth cleaning protocols established by the
Veterinary Oral Health Council. This will ensure you are feeding
your dog the best food to maintain their dental health.
This
is probably the most well known way that we use to keep your dogs
teeth clean and in good shape. Giving your dog a good bone to chew on
can help get rid of build up and keep teeth strong. The chewing
action helps to scrape plaque and tartar from the teeth, leaving them
in much better condition. This method is not as good as brushing
your dog’s teeth, as there are areas that may be ignored and won’t
be cleaned, but it is still a good method.
If
you are worried about the extra calories, as bones can be a bit fatty
for a dog, there are natural choices like include rawhide or a
knucklebone and can be found in low calorie options. You could also
ask your vet to recommend dog dental treats made specifically to
remove plaque buildup and the bonus with these is that they often
contain ingredients that freshen breath and clean your dog’s mouth.
So it’s a double win.
Other
than food, dog rope toys are a good choice, which can provide a
chewing option to clean your dogs teeth. They last for a long time,
and won't cut your dog's gums.
4. Dental Wipes
If
you aren’t able to get your dog to sit quietly for a tooth brushing
session, dog dental wipes or pads are a good option to help clean
your dogs teeth. They can even be used for a dog who is ok with tooth
brushing, but when there's no time for full brushing. The way they
work is that by wiping your dogs teeth and gum line with the special
dental wipes, you will whisk away some bacteria and food. You can use
a canine dental pad, available at most pet stores, or a simple gauze
pad wrapped around your finger.
While
this is good option for cleaning your dogs teeth, the only downside
to using the dog dental wipes rather than a doggie tooth brush, is
that the dental wipes are not able to get into the tiny nooks and
crannies that a brush does. The upside however, is that the dog
dental wipes are much easier than tooth brushing for a dog as it
won’t feel quite so weird.
5. Dental Check up From Vet
During
your regular vet check ups, it’s important to make sure that you
get your vet to check your dogs teeth, at least every six to twelve
months. Just like a human. And while most vets will do a customary
teeth check with your dog, you can also ask for them to do a full
dental cleaning. A professional dental cleaning by your vet is the
best way to maintain your dog’s dental hygiene.
So by combining your regular vet check and
full dental cleaning with the methods mentioned above, you can ensure
that your dog has healthy and strong teeth for life.
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