Who Else Wants Their Dog To Have Clean, Healthy Teeth?

December 20, 2008 by Dog Service Network
Filed under Dental, Dog Care, Health

Dogs are also susceptible to tooth and gum disease, just like their human owners. They get cavities, buildups of plaque or tartar, chipped or broken teeth, and gum disease. A regular dental routine, just as a regular grooming routine should be introduced at an early age to help prevent problems in the adult years. In addition to the annual check by your veterinarian a dog’s owner should check and clean their dog’s teeth regularly. Start by gently pulling back the dog’s lips and check the gums and teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pink. Pale gums may indicate problems, relating to tooth or health problems and should be checked. If the gums have sores or swellings, this also should be checked by your veterinarian. The teeth should be free from stains and buildup of plaque or tartar. Check for broken or chipped teeth and sores on the tongue. If you notice any of these problems your dog should be seen by your veterinarian.

To start your teeth cleaning routine, you must first get your dog comfortable with having its mouth opened and its teeth and gums touched. Once you have accomplished this, then begin cleaning the teeth and gums using either a rough facecloth or gauze squares wrapped around your index finger. Rub downward from the gum to the tip of each tooth, just as you brush your own teeth.

As your routine develops, move up to coarser cloths and eventually to a child’s medium bristled toothbrush. Do not use human toothpaste, as this preparation can irritate the dog’s stomach. There is flavored toothpaste designed for pets that can be obtained from your veterinarian or from a pet food store. Another alternative is a half and half mixture of baking soda and water. This is just as yummy to dogs as it is to humans.

Any dental health problems should always be immediately checked by your veterinarian. Regular annual checks should never be neglected either.

Terrie Simpson has been involved in the dog world for over 28 years and has achieved numerous awards with her Springer Spaniels in tracking and obedience. Over that time, she has amassed a good amount of knowledge about how to keep a dog healthy. She is now happy to give back by sharing her experience with other dog owners. Terrie is a contributing writer for the K9 Kourier – a weekly dog health care ezine. To signup for the K9 Kourier and receive a free $47 gift visit http://www.k9kourier.com.