Dental Care for Man’s Best Friend?

Dental care for our canine friends is becoming a more popular topic as doggy day spas and daycares are established throughout our neighborhoods. It is important to maintain our pups’ teeth so they may maintain long, healthy lives with the ability to eat and chew successfully. Many people believe that giving their dog one bone per day allows them to keep their teeth clean and free from decay; however the latest research shows that dogs need their teeth brushed consistently, in tandem with chewing bones, to stave off periodontal disease and decay.

There are a few ways to evaluate your pooches’ teeth to see if their dental health is being maintained or if it shows room for improvement. The first sign of poor dental care is bad breath. If your dog has bad breath, it may be time to start looking into a tooth brush and chicken flavored toothpaste at your local pet store. Second, your dogs’ gums should be pink (just like ours!) and not red, white, or swollen. A sign that your dog may have the beginning signs of periodontal disease is excessive drooling, tumors, cysts, and loose teeth.

Food can build up on dogs’ teeth just like in our mouths. Food will stick to the teeth, turn into plaque, and eventually turn into calculus, which can only be removed by your veterinarian while your dog is under sedation. There are various pet stores that stock dental kits for dogs and they come in various flavors, in a range of prices, so that dental care is affordable for all pet owners. It is important not to use human toothpaste or mouth rinses on dogs because this can be damaging to dogs’ stomachs and intestines, which is the last thing we want to do! It is also important to use dog food and treats that are dentally friendly and promote clean, healthy teeth.

Now, there have been a few cases where show dogs have had braces in order to give them beautiful bites and smiles to achieve their “Best in Show” awards; however this is not common. These appointments, just like dental cleanings at your local veterinarian’s office, are done under sedation so that no harm comes to your dog, the orthodontist, or veterinarian. We encourage our puppy owners to begin the practice of caring for your dog’s teeth early and often, just like your children’s teeth, because our dogs are part of the family! They deserve clean, healthy teeth and gums because they do such a good job of loving us every day, whether or not we deserve that unconditional love.  

More information can be found at ASPCA websites.

-Stevie, CDA

www.smileteam4u.com