Oral health and overall health are very closely connected. The mouth can be a window into what’s going on in the rest of your dog’s body, often giving you early indications that something else is wrong. So taking good care of your dog’s mouth, teeth and gums is incredibly important.
Sadly, oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for dogs, and it is estimated that more than eighty percent of dogs over the age of three show some signs of oral disease.
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, starts with the bacteria that lurks in a dog’s mouth causing bad breath at first. Then as the bacteria accumulates it can progress to cause even more serious problems and increase your dog’s at risk for disease in other organs, such as the heart, liver and kidneys. Periodontal disease can also cause tooth loss in older dogs, making it difficult for them to eat.
Some experts believe that proper dental care can actually prolong a dog’s life by 20%, making good oral hygiene a very worthy cause.
To get started on a good oral hygiene program for your dog, begin by ensuring your dog has a healthy and nutritious diet. Luckily most commercial dog foods do not contain as much sugar as our human diets do, but if you feed a dog kibble, make sure you do your homework and find a couple of good brands to switch between. Avoid giving animal hooves since chewing on overly hard objects, like cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth. Don’t give your dog anything harder than the surface of his own tooth to chew on.
Brush your dog’s teeth! It might seem strange but brushing your dog’s teeth is just as important as brushing your own teeth.
Introduce a brushing program to dogs gradually. Avoid over-restraining your dog and keep brushing sessions short and positive. At first, dip a finger into beef bouillon and rub the soaked finger gently over the dog’s mouth and teeth. Gradually, introduce gauze over the finger and gently scrub the teeth in a circular motion. Finally, you can introduce a toothbrush to the routine.
For best results use a soft-bristled toothbrush designed for dogs (available from your veterinarian or specialty pet stores). As there are several styles of dog toothbrushes available, you may need to experiment with what style works best for your dog based on their willingness to cooperate and size of their mouth.
When it comes to brushing, you might like mint flavored toothpaste, but human toothpastes and baking soda can upset your dog’s stomach, so find some dog-specific toothpaste which is usually chicken or beef flavored to help your dog get even more excited about brushing time.
Just like you need to go to the dentist regularly, your dog needs to have regular dental checkups with your vet. The daily care and attention you give your dogs’ teeth is incredibly important, but your vet will need to perform the occasional professional cleaning (just like your dentist does for you), so that the teeth can be scraped of any accumulated tartar and checked for any potential problems. Dental cleanings require that the dog be anesthetized, which means that professional cleanings typically cost several hundred dollars, so make sure you maintain a good doggie dental hygiene program at home in order to reduce the frequency of professional cleanings.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month which means lots of veterinarians have special rates for a dental cleaning this month. So give your vet a call and schedule a dental check-up and possibly a cleaning to make sure your dog’s teeth and in good condition.
