National Pet Dental Health Month
Maintaining your dog’s dental hygiene is always important. February has been acknowledged as National Pet Dental Health Month and encourages pet owners to practice good dental hygiene with their furry friends. Keeping up with your pup’s teeth not only prevents bad breath, but also aids in avoiding any dental diseases that may otherwise occur from plaque and tartar build-up. Many owners are oblivious to the dangers that unattended teeth can create; gingivitis and periodontal disease are no joke. Recognizably bad breath, known as halitosis, is a sign of deeper underlying dental issues that your pooch may be suffering from. Gingivitis has stages ranging from mild to severe, and can develop into irreversible periodontal disease if left untreated. In extreme cases a pooch may require tooth extraction. Bring your pup to the vet if you notice symptoms including halitosis, gum bleeding, red gums, drooling, or loss of appetite. Invest in at-home doggie dental care; a dog toothbrush, dog toothpaste, and dog chews. Make it a habit to tend to your pup’s teeth and gums at least once a week to fight off any tartar and plaque building up. Infection and bacteria found in the mouth could extend through the bloodstream to cause heart, kidney, or liver disease. Such diseases could create serious harm to the organs and lead to early death. Make good dental hygiene a habit from the beginning to ensure a healthy, happy dog.
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!!!
