Taking care of your dog’s teeth is more important than you might think. This is an area that we, as dog parents often miss, but can lead to some serious health issues. Bad oral hygiene can lead to infections that start in the mouth and introduce bacteria into other parts of the body. It can affect the kidneys, heart muscle, liver and other organs.
Scary right?!? Thus the focus on doggy dental care (and the fact that my yorkie-girl just lost 16 teeth!)
Dental disease affect around 80% of dogs over the age of three. How do we manage this?
ANNUAL ORAL EXAM
Your’re already taking your pooch for annual vaccinations. Make sure that your vet do a proper dental check while you are there. Some vets recommend annual dental cleaning but your vet should advise if this is necessary.
DAILY BRUSHING
Daily brushing is necessary to minimize calculus formation. Start by massaging our dog’s gums as an introduction to brushing their teeth. Use treats to make sure they associate the brushing with positive outcomes. Be sure to use canine toothpaste. (for more see 10 best dog toothpastes to get your dog ready for a kiss)
Easier said than done right. My dogs don’t allow me to touch their mouth. I personally have a huge struggle with this one. If you can manage this – fantastic, if you’re in the same boat as I am, then move on to the next tip 🙂
FOOD
This is quite important and can make a big difference. Both my yorkies have bad teeth, and I currently add a few pellets of the Hill’s Dental Care (t/d – prescription diet) food to their meals (as they are on specialized food for other health issues I cannot give them only the dental food). The food help to manage or delay tartar buildup. It’s available in mini and standard size.
WATER ADDITIVES & SPRAY OPTIONS
There’s options such as Tropiclean’s Fresh Breath that can be mixed into your dog’s drinking water. This works similar to a human’s mouth wash – so assist in managing healthy mouth hygiene, but won’t do the trick alone. Another alternative would be Over Zoo’s Animal Dent Rinse that you spray directly on your dog’s teeth to assist in preventing tartar buildup and refresh breath (my doggies both freaked out when I tried to spray this on them – so if they’re not keen on your fiddling in their mouth this is going to be a no-go)
TREATS
Always an easy option to use as an add-on. There’s multiple options including Regal’s Doggy Dental Chews and Pedigree’s Dentastix – most vets, vetshops & supermarkets stock a variety of yummy options.
SIGNS THAT YOUR PUP IS EXPERIENCING DENTAL ISSUES
Dogs are awesome animals and often don’t complain if they are in pain. It’s your job as a dog parent to observe and ensure that your dog is happy and healthy.
Look out for pawing at the month, disinterest in food, bad breath, red or swollen gums, loss of appetite, discolored teeth and bleeding from the mouth.
Good dental care can extend a dog’s life. Keep those furkids healthy! Read more on the dental cleaning and what to expect.