The term “doggy breath” can at time be cute, but can also be misleading. Dog dental care is an important part of caring for your pet. Just like humans; dogs have teeth that can cause problems if they are not cared for with a proper dental routine. You may have already noticed, but your dog’s bad breath is an indication they are suffering.
Dental Care for Dogs
There are many ways to view dog dental care, one of them is to visit your vet. Some vets host yearly dental programs (with reduced vet rates), so it’s a good idea to schedule your dog early for a dental exam. Dental care for dogs should not include bones or cookies that claim to clean tartar from your dogs teeth. One of the prob;lems with these types of dental treats is that they may cause further pain if a dog has a sore tooth.
Example: You give your dog a treat made to help loosen tartar or claim to remove tarter, what may happen is if your dog has an already infected tooth (bad doggy breath), the treat may cause the tooth to further crack or become lodged causing swelling and discomfort.
Your vet is an important part of this dental care. Ask your vet to show you how to brush your pets’ teeth properly. Your vet knows how to brush their teeth properly so your beloved pet doesn’t get gum disease or any of the other conditions associated with poor oral hygiene.
You are going to need to spend some time finding the right toothbrush for your dog. You can use a child’s toothbrush – but it is recommended that you rather buy a special toothbrush for your pet. It will make brushing easier and will be worth the money.
To buy a toothbrush you can visit your vet or local pet supply store. You might be surprised to see how many variations of pet toothbrushes and toothpaste’s there are. Rather ask for help if you are not sure about what kind to get. There are some rules for choosing the best brush for your dog. You need to make sure that the bristles are soft so they don’t damage the dog’s gums. You also need to make sure you choose the right sized brush (just make sure its’ not too big or too small for your dogs mouth). Lastly check that the handle is big enough for you to comfortably get a grip on the toothbrush.
Can I use regular toothpaste on my dogs teeth?
NO! You cannot use human toothpaste on your dog. You cam make your dog sick. There is a huge choice at most pet supply store’s so ask for help and read the labels carefully. Dogs need a special high quality toothpaste with ingredients specially formulated for them. You need to spend some time choosing your toothpaste too. Cheaper brands might use ingredients that are harmful to your pet, and there are some common ingredients can make your pet sick. Read the labels carefully and check that the toothpaste does not contain salt, detergents or enzymes as these are dangerous for your pet. Last tip, don’t buy dog toothpaste that has a snap on cap, the toothpaste always dries up and you won’t be able to snap the cap into place. Try to find a dog toothpaste that has a screw-on cap.
If your dog really does not want to allow you to brush his teeth without a fight you can use a towel first. Try rubbing his teeth so he gets used to the sensation as well as your fingers in his mouth. Speak encouragingly and softly; you can even sing a little tune to calm him down. After a few patient weeks the dog should allow you to brush his teeth without any hassles.
How Often Should You Brush a Dogs Teeth?
The answer to how often you should brush a dogs teeth varies for some dogs and their temperament. You should be brushing your dogs’ teeth daily; but if you can’t manage that,once every second day should be fine. Some dogs DO NOT want you near their mouth, while others could care less. If your dog doesn’t like to have their teeth brushed you may need to have your vet do a cleaning on a monthly basis. It’s important that you start too see your dogs mouth as your own. By doing this you will ensure that your dogs’ teeth will last well into old age; and of course his dog breath will improve.
Brushing your dog’s teeth for the first time can be difficult; especially if they are not used to it. This can be avoided by starting when they are puppies – but if it’s too late for that don’t worry. The key is to be gentle, speak in a soft voice and do not force the dog. He must learn that it is not a big deal. Start from the back of the mouth and work your way forward in small circular motions.
Not to mention the cost to have a complete dental workup; to include putting the dog under, extracting teeth – this can be costly. Instead, brush your dogs teeth and provide great dog dental care for years to come.