Dog Dental
Care
Many people
do not realize the importance of caring for their dog's teeth.
As dogs age, the need for dental care increases. The best way
to ensure proper dental health for your dog is to start while they
are very young.
Many
dogs do not like their mouths touched. It is important for you
as a dog owner to desensitize them to being handled like this at a
very young age. The veterinarian is always going to need to
examine your dog's mouth and you do not want to have problems with
this. The best way for you to get your dog used to having his
mouth touched is to begin touching it when you first get your pup.
Make sure to touch the lips, open the mouth, and touch the teeth in
a calm and relaxing way for about five minutes each day until your
pup is used to being handled in this way. Make this a regular
part of your interaction with your dog so he remains calm when you
are doing any kind of preventive dental care.
Most
veterinarians recommend brushing your dog's teeth daily. Many
manufacturers make special toothpaste and brushes for dogs.
You do not ever want to use human toothpaste on dogs as it may be
harmful to them. To get your dog used to having his teeth
brushed, you may want to start by putting a dab of dog toothpaste on
a cotton ball and rubbing it over his teeth. Toothpaste for
dogs is usually quite tasty to them, so he shouldn't mind this.
You can then try a finger brush, available at your veterinarian's
office or pet supply store. Eventually, especially for larger
breeds, you will want to graduate to a regular dog toothbrush.
Regular brushing will help prevent the buildup of calculus and
debris on your dog's teeth.
Another
way to help prevent calculus and buildup on your dog's teeth is by
using rawhide chews specially formulated for dental care. Many
companies manufacture these chews. One of the best available
is by C.E.T. Most veterinarians carry C.E.T. dental health
products. C.E.T. chews are formulated with an enzyme that
helps keep plaque from forming and prevents the buildup of bacteria.
Also, the natural abrasion of rawhide chews helps keep teeth
healthy. C.E.T. also makes a chew that contains chlorhexadine
which has antimicrobial properties.
Some
companies also make special dental health food, which may be
recommended to you by your veterinarian to help prevent dental
problems.
Even
with proper preventive measures, most dogs will eventually need a
dental cleaning from your veterinarian. If your veterinarian
recommends a dental cleaning, it is important that you follow
through. If your dog develops dental disease, harmful bacteria
can pass through into the bloodstream causing potentially serious
problems such as kidney infections and infections involving the
heart valves. A dental cleaning performed by your veterinarian is
much like a human dental cleaning, however your dog will need to be
sedated. The anaesthesia is light and with today's technology
is extremely safe. Many veterinarians have aesthesia
monitoring systems just like those used in human medicine. A
thorough exam will be performed to determine if any teeth need to be
pulled or repaired. Some veterinarians will do x-rays of the
teeth to find any cracks or diseased teeth. After this, a
trained member of the veterinary staff will perform a dental
cleaning. First, they will scale the teeth to remove the
tartar above and below the gum line. This will be done with both
hand instruments and ultrasonic scaling equipment. After this,
the teeth will be polished, which will make them smooth and help
prevent plaque from adhering to them. Most veterinarians will
also do a fluoride treatment. This is to help strengthen the
enamel and prevent plaque from forming. If any teeth are
diseased or broken, your veterinarian may pull them. Some
veterinarians who specialize in dental care will perform root canals
and other intensive dental work. Most veterinarians will put
your dog on a treatment of antibiotics to help prevent bacterial
infection.
It is very important to take good care of your dog's teeth to keep
them healthy and to prevent infections. Always follow your
veterinarian's advice and if you have further questions, consult
your veterinary staff or pet professional.
Recommended Resource
Veterinary Secrets Revealed
Dog Article
courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com