Dental Care for Your Dog
Stinky dog breath isn’t just a nuisance- it’s a sign that something is wrong. Dental disease is the most common disease in canines. Dogs don’t get cavities but they do get plaque, tartar, and gingivitis which all cause foul breath and tooth problems. Poor dental care for your dog can lead to dental infections that travel to your pup’s heart, causing major problems or even death. One quick, simple way to try to avoid this is by brushing your dog’s teeth.
Before you start brushing your dog’s teeth, you should have a vet examine the dog for loose teeth, abscesses, etc. If your dog has gum disease or damaged teeth brushing will be very painful and your dog may associate this pain with teeth brushing. You could even be bitten. Before you start brushing, you’ll want to buy a few things from a pet store or a vet. You’ll need a toothbrush made for dog’s teeth. You can use a regular one with soft bristles, but the brushes made for dogs are much longer and you will be able to reach the back teeth much easier. There are also tooth brushes that fit over your finger and dental wipes for dogs who will not allow a traditional brush. You’ll want to buy a tooth paste made especially for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. The fluoride compound in human paste can harm your dog and make him ill. There are multiple flavors available like mint, poultry, and beef. Try to find one your dog likes. Also, keep some treats handy so you can reward your dog for good behavior. This will also present teeth brushing as a positive experience.
You should get your dog used to looking in his mouth before you start brushing his teeth. Give him lots of praise and reward him with a dog treat every time he lets you look into his mouth. When you are ready to begin brushing, put your dog on a comfortable surface. Put some toothpaste on your dog’s toothbrush. Gently hold his muzzle and lift his lip on one side. Gently brush in a circular, all the way to the gum line. Make sure you get the back teeth! You can always add more toothpaste if you need to. When you are finished, clean the tooth brush and store it somewhere sanitary. Lavish your dog with praise and give him treats. He’ll probably want to get a drink to rinse out his mouth.
Try to make teeth brushing a daily habit. If you can’t brush everyday, try every other day. You may have a hard time at first, but the more you brush the easier it will be. With a little time and patience, you will find that though your dog doesn’t like having his teeth brushed, he will at least cooperate. His clean teeth and fresh breath are worth the effort!!!
Grooming Your Dog: Bath Time!
Most dogs panic when they hear the word bath and this makes the task of bathing quite uncomfortable. Taking your dog to the groomer to be bathed can be costly, but many people are willing to pay the high grooming fees to avoid getting drenched every time they try to bathe their dogs. Giving your dog a bath doesn’t have to be such a nerve-wracking experience. If you just make your dog feel safe and secure, you will find that you will have a much easier time.
Before you begin, gather all your supplies and take them into your bathroom. You will need shampoo, conditioner (optional), dog brush, towels, cotton balls, and treats. Place a rubber bath mat in the bottom of your bath tub to help your pet feel secure. Brush your dog’s coat our before bathing to remove tangles, mats, and loose hair. You can use a removable hair strainer to prevent your drain from clogging. If you own a detachable showerhead, you may want to use that instead as most dogs are afraid of water running from faucets. This is also easier and helps save water. Put moist cotton balls in your dog’s ears to prevent water from running in. You can get eye drops that keep soap out of your dog’s eyes.
Try leaving the water running ahead of time to get your dog used to the sound before you actually put him in the tub and fill with about 6 inches of water. Wet your pet thoroughly and lather with shampoo from head to tail. Use a shampoo made especially for dogs. Never use human shampoo; it is too harsh for dog’s sensitive skin. Be sure to stay away from their eyes. If you massage and rub your dog while lathering him up, it will relax him and make bath time more enjoyable.
Rinse your dog thoroughly. Make sure to remove all traces of shampoo and get all of the hard to rinse places like his belly, behind his ears, and under his tail. Leftover shampoo residue causes itching and scratching. Rinse with one hand and rub your pet with the other, draining the bath tub while you rinse. If you are using conditioner, apply and leave on your dog for about two minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
While still in the tub, dry your dog with towels in smooth strokes to remove all of the water trapped under fur. Do not rub- this will only tangle the hair. You can use a hair dryer on a low setting to dry hair more quickly. Watch your dog when he is done; most dogs want to run and rub to get themselves dry after a bath and he could get dirty all over again. When your dog is completely dry, brush his coat out again.
Treats and praise a big key to success when dealing with dogs. Make sure to praise your dog throughout the whole process and give your dog treats when you are through. This will present baths as a positive experience. Never yell at your dog or be rough with him while bathing. This will only scare him and make him more resistant to the process.
