Dog teeth cleaning should be something which is done regularly as a part of your pet care routine. If possible, your dog's teeth should be brushed daily, or least every other day. Dogs are just as susceptible as we are to tooth disease, so it is important to make sure that our dog's teeth are kept clean and free of tartar.
Dental Disease and Your Dog's Health
Diseases of the mouth, teeth, and gums can be very painful for your pooch and because they aren't able to tell us when they have a toothache, as pet owners we must be diligent in keeping up with our dog's dental care. If left untreated, a tooth infection may develop into serious complication for your dog and affect vital organs such as their heart, liver, or kidneys.
Your dog's diet definitely has a direct effect on their dental health. Choosing foods and treats that are fortified and designed to keep their teeth and gums healthy are an easy way to implement dental hygiene into your dog's life. Although professional cleaning by a veterinarian is an option, this should only be considered in extreme cases as unnecessarily having your dog anesthetized is not only expensive, but it also puts undue stress on your pet.
Getting Your Pet Used to Dog Teeth Cleaning
With some patience, you can train your dog to accept tooth brushing. Adult dogs and puppies can both be trained by starting with your finger and some peanut butter.
Your pet will lick your finger (and the peanut butter). You can start rubbing their teeth and gums while praising your dog. After a few days you r dog will become accustomed to this and you can start trying it with a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. Rub the teeth and gums with your finger just as you would with a toothbrush. When your dog gets used to this procedure, you can start using a real toothbrush.
Never use toothpaste intended for humans on your dog as ingredients such as baking soda will upset their stomach. Also, dog toothpaste is specially formulated for their teeth and will have an appealing smell and taste to help make the process a bit easier. Start out by letting your dog lick a dollop of toothpaste off of the brush first, then use more to finally start brushing.
Lift the sides of your dog's gums so you can access their upper teeth, aptly called the canines, and hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle for the best results. This allows you to clean the gum line as well as the teeth to keep the gums equally as healthy. Brushing two to three teeth at a time, brush in a circular motion anywhere from eight to ten times or so in order to get each area clean. A dog's upper back teeth tend to be the most susceptible to decay and periodontal disease, so if anything, focus your efforts there first.
Dog teeth cleaning should always be a happy, positive event. However, you will want to remain upbeat, but also low-key to keep your dog on the same wavelength and from becoming overly excited. Usually no more than one minute or so is long enough before your dog loses interest, but after practicing for a bit, you'll find that that's all it takes to keep your dog's teeth clean, keeping them happy and healthy.
Dental Disease and Your Dog's Health
Diseases of the mouth, teeth, and gums can be very painful for your pooch and because they aren't able to tell us when they have a toothache, as pet owners we must be diligent in keeping up with our dog's dental care. If left untreated, a tooth infection may develop into serious complication for your dog and affect vital organs such as their heart, liver, or kidneys.
Your dog's diet definitely has a direct effect on their dental health. Choosing foods and treats that are fortified and designed to keep their teeth and gums healthy are an easy way to implement dental hygiene into your dog's life. Although professional cleaning by a veterinarian is an option, this should only be considered in extreme cases as unnecessarily having your dog anesthetized is not only expensive, but it also puts undue stress on your pet.
Getting Your Pet Used to Dog Teeth Cleaning
With some patience, you can train your dog to accept tooth brushing. Adult dogs and puppies can both be trained by starting with your finger and some peanut butter.
Your pet will lick your finger (and the peanut butter). You can start rubbing their teeth and gums while praising your dog. After a few days you r dog will become accustomed to this and you can start trying it with a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. Rub the teeth and gums with your finger just as you would with a toothbrush. When your dog gets used to this procedure, you can start using a real toothbrush.
Never use toothpaste intended for humans on your dog as ingredients such as baking soda will upset their stomach. Also, dog toothpaste is specially formulated for their teeth and will have an appealing smell and taste to help make the process a bit easier. Start out by letting your dog lick a dollop of toothpaste off of the brush first, then use more to finally start brushing.
Lift the sides of your dog's gums so you can access their upper teeth, aptly called the canines, and hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle for the best results. This allows you to clean the gum line as well as the teeth to keep the gums equally as healthy. Brushing two to three teeth at a time, brush in a circular motion anywhere from eight to ten times or so in order to get each area clean. A dog's upper back teeth tend to be the most susceptible to decay and periodontal disease, so if anything, focus your efforts there first.
Dog teeth cleaning should always be a happy, positive event. However, you will want to remain upbeat, but also low-key to keep your dog on the same wavelength and from becoming overly excited. Usually no more than one minute or so is long enough before your dog loses interest, but after practicing for a bit, you'll find that that's all it takes to keep your dog's teeth clean, keeping them happy and healthy.
About the Author:
Canine teeth cleaning is imperative to your dog's health, and canine teeth cleaning can be effected in several ways. So keep your dog's teeth clean by brushing your dog's teeth, by a healthy diet, and by adding a canine teeth cleaning agent to your dog's drinking water. All can play a part in keeping your dog's teeth healthy.
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