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Dental Care For Your Dog:

In order to take care of your canine, you need to take care of his canines…

 

An important aspect of your dog’s health that is commonly overlooked is in the realm of dog dental care.  Beyond any shadow of doubt, dog dental care is something every responsible dog owner needs to understand and participate in.  Dog dental care at home and at the vet is essential for all dogs, especially for smaller dogs.  In smaller dogs, the bone that holds the teeth is thinner, which increases the risk of gum disease.


Dog dental care is something that should be done on a regular basis; most veterinarians and breeder say that dog dental care should be done daily.  If it isn’t, your dog faces many problems.

 

Common symptoms of dental problems in dogs include:

  • Red, swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Drooling
  • Bloody saliva
  • Tartar buildup at the gum line
  • Broken teeth
  • Bad breath
  • Loss of appetite

The key to proper dog dental care is prevention.  The first thing you want to prevent is plaque.  If you can prevent plaque from forming, or remove it while still soft, you can prevent most dental problems.  Food, bacteria, and saliva can accumulate and stick to the tooth surface, forming a soft plaque.  If this soft plaque buildup continues, solutions of chalk-like material will form a hardened calculus on the surface of the tooth.  If left unchecked, plaque and calculus buildup can eventually cause gingivitis – inflammation the gums –and periodontitis – inflammation of the lining of the tooth socket.  Without proper treatment, the teeth will become infected and may fall out.  The infection resulting from these conditions may spread to other parts of the body, such as the kidneys or valves of the heart.

There are two ways to prevent this from happening and provide proper dog dental care:

 

Tooth Brushing
Tooth brushing is the best way to provide proper dog dental care.  Many dog owners brush their dogs' teeth regularly.  You should be brushing your dog's teeth at least twice a week and it's not as difficult as you might think.  The first thing to do is get the proper toothpaste.  You can’t use the same toothpaste we use - The Dog Bowl has pet toothpaste.  The toothpastes we use are designed to spit out and dogs can’t spit - they will swallow it.  When dogs swallow toothpaste designed for humans, it causes stomach upset.  The best toothpastes for dog dental care contain enzymes that help control plaque and fluoride that help control bacteria.  Try to avoid products with baking soda, detergents, or salt.  The next thing to do is get an appropriate toothbrush.  The ideal dog toothbrush will have a long handle, an angled head, and extra soft bristles.  You might also consider using a finger toothbrush that fits over the tip of your finger.  When you brush your dog’s teeth, use a gentle oval motion and try to concentrate on the outside of the upper teeth.  (If you don't like to brush, or are very busy, try a new product we carry call Leba.  All you have to do is spray a mist of this product in the mouth!  Click here to read about this product & also order it.)

 

Dental Chews
Although brushing is the best form of dog dental care, chew treats and chew toys are great alternative when regular brushing is hard to do.  A good chew toy, like the kind we carry, will be enjoyable for your dog to chew on and will help remove plaque.  As your dog chews on the toy, it will scrape particles from the teeth and help keep them clean.

 

Once again, proper dog dental care is an important part of your dog's overall health.  Good dental care can add 3-5 years to your pet's life!  At The Dog Bowl, nothing is more important than your pets’ health.  For more information about dog dental care and to shop for dental care items at The Dog Bowl click here!