One major aspect of a dogs health can be their teeth. Your dog’s teeth are subject to the many of the same illnesses as humans. The mouth is considered to be a gateway for many other potential health concerns when not properly cared for because your pet will be ingesting bacteria constantly.

Brushing your pet’s teeth and gums helps protect your pet from potential health problems and defend against gingivitis. Caring for your dog’s teeth is also a good way to save money, as this is one of the quickest growing areas of dog care with 5% or more of dogs getting some form of dog dental care during their last Vet visit. It is estimated that over eighty percent of dogs will have some type of dog dental care issue before the age of 2 years.

Brushing your dog’s teeth is pretty much the same as brushing your own. When introducing your pet to the tooth brushing process, you should start off when they are young, go slow, and proceed through the following steps.

• Start by having your veterinarian do a thorough teeth cleaning. This will give you a sold foundation to start your own dog brushing routine.
• Familiarize your dog with the taste of the toothpaste. Dog specific toothpastes or generally flavored to be more palatable to your pet, and can come in beef, chicken or other flavors. This helps because dog toothpastes will be swallowed by your dog and should not induce vomiting or discomfort.
• Do a dry run without the toothpaste. Give your dog a chance to become accustomed to the toothbrush by itself. Once your dog is comfortable with the brush add the toothpaste.
  • As an alternative to using a brush, use your finger instead. By running your finger along your dogs gums, you will stimulate the same behavior in an attempt to get your dog accustomed to the brushing experience. (having something in their mouth other then food or their own tongue)
• Start by brushing the higher teeth first holding the brush at an angle. For plenty of dogs a kid’s toothbrush is still too hard, so stick to one made for dogs. Placing the toothpaste between the bristles rather than on top of the bristles will allow for better toothpaste coverage.
  • Alternatively when using your finger, wrap the fabric around a finger, put a touch of paste on the end, lift the dog’s lips and rub in a round about motion along the teeth and gums.
• Make sure to brush all of your pet’s teeth. Begin with the higher parts of the teeth (near te gum line) since these areas are more susceptible to plaque buildup. After the top, go on and brush the bottoms.
• Make sure to give your dog lots of praise and comfort during and after the tooth brushing is done. Give them a nice reward and let them know a tooth cleaning is a good thing for them.

With a compliant and calm pet the process can be done in about 30 second to a minute. Keeping your pet’s teeth and gums clean will go a long way toward preventing more serous dental diseases. Dog’s teeth should be brushed at least twice a week (2/week) and better still would be once a day (7/week).

Canine Toothpaste

The best dog toothpastes contain ingredients that fight plaque like enzymes and fluoride to combat bacteria.

Do not use human toothpaste versions. These are not designed to be swallowed and must be spit out. Dog’s do not have the direct ability to “rinse and spit” like we do.

You may wish to avoid electronic toothbrushes. These are often too noises, which may cause distress or distract your dog, and they tend to be too harsh. If you decide to use one, consider finding one that is “baby” safe so that it will be more gentle on your pet.

Bleeding after brushing your dog’s teeth could be a sign of more serious periodontal disease. A well-scheduled, long term brushing routine will clean and tighten your dog’s gums and any bleeding should stop. If the bleeding continues, even with proper care, then check with your vet immediately. You pet may have a more serious dental issue, tumors, ulcers, cots or possible obstruction.

Your dog’s teeth are an incredibly important necessity to your dog’s way of life. They chew on bones, eat lots of hard or crunchy kibble foods, and even use them to carry objects. Your dog will often be under a lot of pain or stress when they have sever tooth problems. Make sure to take proper care of their teeth and gums and your pet will thank you for it for a lifetime.

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