We are taught to brush our teeth at least twice a day and floss frequently to protect our mouths from disease, plaque, and rot. However, many people forget that our animals need dental hygiene as well. Aside from just taking care of the awful dog breath, regular canine dental care can significantly increase your dog’s health and quality of life.
Dental disease is a common affliction for dogs and cats. Most animals have some degree of dental disease by the time they turn 3 years old.
This occurs when bacteria from food becomes trapped under the gums, causing extreme pain and inflammation. These bacteria don’t stay in the mouth; they enter the bloodstream through the gums and bring infection to the animal’s entire body. The gum infection caused by the bacteria can make things like eating or even drinking extremely painful and difficult for a dog. The infection may also alter a dog’s personality, making them tired or more irritable than normal.
Pay Attention to Canine Dental Health
Canine dental care and early detection is critical to combating dental diseases.
- Take regular peeks at your dog’s teeth to check for red, swollen gums, or tartar buildup forming on their teeth. Bad breath can also be an indication that your dog has a gum infection.
- Even if you don’t notice anything, you should have your veterinarian perform an oral exam and dental cleaning at least once a year so that you catch any diseases early enough to treat them properly.
- Exams will include looking at the parts of the teeth and gums that are visible, then taking X-rays to check for signs of disease beneath the gums. Your dog will be put under anesthesia so the dental veterinarian can safely clean and inspect their teeth. Though it may seem over-the-top, anesthesia makes the process safer for both the veterinarian and your dog–it significantly decreases stress, and it is necessary to prevent your dog from biting the vet.
- Getting your dog’s teeth cleaned annually is a great first step to preventing dental disease, and will significantly decrease the chances of needing to pay for an expensive surgery down the line. There are also easy methods of cleaning and protection you can do at home.
- Brushing your dog’s teeth can be a major help against tartar buildup. There are toothpastes developed specifically for dogs and cats that are safe to swallow and even come in a variety of delicious flavors (for them) like beef, chicken, and peanut butter. Just a quick scrub once a day can make a big difference.
- Never give your pet toothpaste developed for humans, as it has chemicals that are toxic to them.
- Additionally, you can give your dog a dental treat once a day. Dental treats are specifically formulated to scrape your dog’s teeth as they chew, which helps remove bacteria and tartar. The treats are tough, but not harmful like bones and antlers are–giving your dog items like bones that are extremely hard can lead to chipping or cracking their teeth.
Your dog cannot be truly happy and healthy unless he has boundaries and understands the rules. After all, you need your dog to stop when commanded. to come when you call, and to know the physical lines they are not allowed to cross. In order to teach your dog to stay safe, call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training today. We’d love to help.
