As a dog owner most of us don't think of taking care of our
dog's teeth and gums. We all must be aware of how
important it is. Just like humans, if not taken care of the
long term affects can cause gingervitis, infections, bone
loss and eventually loss of teeth.
In order to prevent dental problems it is of vital
importance that you do a home examination. Check for
plaque, tooth fractures and check their breath. Usually if
they have bad breath it is caused by bacteria in their
mouth. At the first sign of plaque, it must be taken care
of immediately. If not caught in time it will form into
tarter. Tarter is very common in dogs or best known as
periodontal disease. It is caused by plaque, food debri,
cell mucus and bacteria. This results in a milky white
film on the dog's teeth as well as their gums. When the
film gets combined with saliva it becomes tarter. At this
point it is very hard to remove.
The best way to start brushing his teeth is by mixing some
garlic salt with water, dip an old toothbrush into the
mixture and have your dog smell, taste and chew on it. As
soon as he is comfortable with this try brushing his teeth.
This will take time so remember to be patient and
consistant. Eventually it will become apart of your daily
routine. Do not raise your voice in anyway or he will
assocciate the toothbrush as a bad thing. Do Not use human
toothpaste, as these are made to be spit out. Since dogs
can not spit it out there are various toothpastes you can
buy made specially for dogs. You can buy them from your
local pet store. The fingure brush is also a great way to
keep your dogs teeth clean. Apply it on your fingure tip
and rub your dogs teeth and gums. Although it is
recommended to use a toothbrush this is an alternative. To
kill the bacteria in your dogs mouth and help heal damaged
gum tissues is mouthwash. This is used by simply putting a
few drops in your dogs water. Follow the directions on the
label carefully. Again, Do Not use human mouthwash, there
is mouthwash specially made for dogs. To keep plaque at bay
there are various bones and treats you can give your dog.
If your dog doesn't cooperate with you while trying to
brush his teeth you can have them professionaly cleaned by
your veterinarian. They will put your dog under anesthetia,
scrape the buildup of plaque from the gum lines and polish
them. This procedure is highly recommended. Check with
your veterinarian on how often it should be done.
It is up to us as the dog owners in keeping our dogs happy
and healthy.
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Michelle Johnson is highly respected in her community on
her knowledge of dog care. She also owns:
http://www.tailwaggingprices.com an online pet supply
store. All at discounted prices.
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