Doggie Dental Care
Dirty Dogs Self Serve Pet Wash and Boutique Brushing a dog’s teeth is about as much fun as having a root canal, but, if you can get Fido to cooperate, it has many benefits. The biggest benefit of brushing your dog’s teeth is just like ours…. it keeps plaque from building up. There are lots of natural dental products on the market to help with daily maintenance.
If left unchecked, plaque will eventually mineralize and become tartar. Once tartar starts to build up, it can destroy the gum line, which can cause the teeth to become loose and fall out. In other words, frequent brushing of your dog’s teeth will keep your dog’s mouth healthy, prevent tooth loss and no more bad doggie breath.
Second, statistics show that a dog with healthy teeth will live longer, play more, be happier and healthier. Doggie dental care isn’t just about cleaning your dog’s teeth, its about having a happy and healthy dog!
Brushing Fido’s teeth should start as soon as possible so that both you and your dog get accustomed to the practice. Your first task is to show Fido that he can trust you with putting weird stuff in his mouth. He’s not going to be too sure about what’s going on so take the time to gain his confidence.
Your first attempt is by rubbing your fingers along your dog’s mouth and inside his mouth if he permits it. You can wrap your finger in sterile gauze first and put a dab of “Dog Toothpaste” on it. Please do not use human toothpaste as it can make Fido sick.
After he’s used to your finger along and inside his mouth, try upgrading to a rubber finger pet brush and now start gently rubbing his teeth. Just do this for no more than a minute at a time, you don’t want to teach Fido that dental care time is boring and irritating. After he’s accustomed to the rubber finger brush and accepts it without reservation, move on to the toothbrush introduction. In the beginning stages remember no more than a minute at a time, don’t wo rry about the quality of brushing or the amount of teeth brushed.
Before putting the toothbrush to Fido’s mouth, let him investigate the brush for a minute, allowing him to lick the toothpaste if he so wishes. At this point all you’re trying to do is introduce the toothbrush, the toothpaste and the experience itself to your dog. Again, don’t put big expectations on the quality of cleaning at this point. Let him investigate the toothbrush at the start of each cleaning session.
The key thing to remember is that if you make this a big ordeal that has to be perfectly performed each time, Fido will tire of it quickly and he’s going to start resenting–then dreading, then fighting–tooth cleaning time right from the start. Once that happens it will be hard to get him to accept any dental care procedure.
It may take time for Fido to get used to the cleaning procedure, but once he does you have the hardest part of brushing over. If he isn’t fully trained to sit or lay down then I don’t recommend using a toothbrush for a while. Stick to the rubber finger brushes so that you have more control and pose no hazards with pointy edges.
Remember, brushing a dog’s teeth is no walk in the park. It takes practice and patience. Making it fun for both you and your dog will ensure it becomes part of your routine. It is all worthwhile when you consider the money you save on dental care and the benefits your dog derive s from having healthy teeth and gums, not to mention the suffering you prevent by avoiding dental diseases in your furry friend!
Pet Dental Health FAQ
- Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition among dogs & cats.
- 8/10 pets have oral issues by age 3.
- Bacteria is the #1 cause of bad breath in pets.
- Less than 1% of dogs receive daily tooth brushings. Cat owners brush their cat’s teeth even less.
- “Doggy Breath” is not unavoidable. Even senior dogs should have good breath with proper care.
- The cost of cleaning your pet’s teeth is far less than the cost of pulling teeth as they go bad.
- Your pet should go for a dental exam once a year.
Top signs of Periodontal Disease
- Chewing on one side of mouth
- Not wanting to be touched
- Bumps or lumps in mouth
- Tartar on teeth
- Loose teeth
- Drooling
- Bad breath
Poor Oral Car can eventually lead to:
- Gingivitus
- Bad Breath
- Heart Disease
- Lung Disease
- Kidney Disease