6 Dental Health Tips For Dogs

In seeking to provide the best for your fur babies it is important that you take care of their dental hygiene. Lack of proper dental care can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. If this is not treated immediately the bacteria infection can lead to damage in their heart, liver, and even their kidneys. 

A lot of dogs show signs of gum disease by the time they reach four years old. Dental hygiene is not just an option but it is a vital part of their lifestyle. Schedule regular check-ups with your vet through sunnysidevetclinic.com to ensure that your dogs have a healthy mouth.

6 Dental Health Tips For Your Dogs

• Check their breath

It might not be the smell of roses but it should be at least on the neutral scale. However, if it stinks really bad and accompanied by a weakening of their appetite then it might be time to seek professional help.

• Check their mouth

Do not simply sniff the breath of your dogs. Dedicate a day in a week to examine their mouth especially around the gum area and their teeth. When you notice that their gums are pink, that means that they are healthy. Otherwise, if it appears to be whiter or a bit redder, check if there are swollen parts as it could mean that your dog may be suffering for something. Check also for tumors in the gums or cysts under the tongue. These are all signs of oral disease.

• Check their teeth

Your dog’s teeth should not show any signs of brownish tartar building up. To start, it is recommended that you use a toothbrush made especially for dogs. On your first try, do not force it on them but rather do it gently until they get comfortable. Stop if they get agitated and try another day. It’s okay if you don’t manage to brush every single tooth the first time, slowly increase as your dog gets more familiar with the process. Give your dogs a special treat after brushing their teeth to reward their patience.

There is also a brushing technique that you can use to clean their teeth. Place the brush on their teeth at a 45-degree angle and move in small circular motions. The outer side of their tooth has the tendency to accumulate more tartar. Give that side a downward stroke to remove tartar. 

• Dry foods are healthier for their teeth than soft ones

Crunchy kibble is actually better for their teeth. Soft food might stick to their teeth and cause tartar buildup that if not brushed properly will lead to gum disease.

Consult with your pet’s vet about dry foods that are good for them and can slow down the tartar and plaque build-up. Avoid feeding them just anything that they might be asking you for, prioritize giving them treats that promote their teeth health. Another thing to avoid is that your pets do not have access to the trash where they might sniff the food and eat it.

• Give them chew toys

Chewing helps strengthen the gums and teeth of your pet dogs. Chewing on their rubber toys can also avoid tartar buildup and even scrape away soft tartar that may have been already there. It also massages his gums and reduces their stress level. When buying their toys, look for products that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal. The seal means that the product has met the required standards of effectiveness that helps control plaque and tartar buildup.

• Bring your dogs to the vet regularly to have them checked

Your dogs should have at least twice a year visits to their vets to check on their dental health. Dental health, if overlooked can lead to their tooth or even multiple teeth pulled out to stop the infection and other health issues. During this time you can also ask for a dental cleaning from the vet. This type of cleaning can get to the hard to reach places that you are not able to brush. Pets that undergo cleaning are under general anesthesia so that they don’t move around. Do not worry, fur parents, pet anesthesia is safe for your babies.

Conclusion  

The dental health of your dogs is an important part of their lifestyle. Make sure that you have good dental hygiene practices with them at home together with regular consultations with their vets.  Your pets simply deserve the best and good health is one of the best gifts that you can give them.