So you’ve just gotten out of the shower, brushed your teeth, and are ready to relax on your bed to snooze into tomorrow. As you tuck yourself in, however, your pup jumps up and says goodnight with a big lick across your face, followed by some panting excitement for you to pet him in return. As much as this experience sounds like a comforting gesture, many of us know that this act can make us want to jump back in the shower, rebrush our teeth and throw our fingers over our nose to avoid smelling our pup’s foul dog food breath. Beyond your personal discomfort, uncommonly bad dog breath can be a precursor for gum disease, which is often seen starting at age 3 in nearly 80% of dogs.
For those of you desiring to avoid associating this ‘icky’ feeling with your dog, here are some mouth care tips for you to try out on your dog:
1. Test the Breath
Granted it won’t smell like a bushel of roses, but if your dogs breaths seems to be extraordinarily off putting, and perhaps accompanied by excessive drinking, drooling, vomiting, urinating or lack of eating you should visit your local vet.
2. What’s under the Hood?
Take a moment to check under your dog’s lips to see that his/her gums ARE pink and NOT white, red or swelling. Also make sure there isn’t a brownish tartar on the teeth, unusually loose teeth, tumors in the gums, or cysts under the tongue.
3. Are My Dog’s Teeth Decaying?
It is important to have regular teeth cleanings performed on your pooch to avoid build-up of plaque and bacteria-forming foods that can harden into tartar, leading often to tooth loss, receding gums and gingivitis.
4. Brush Brush Brush
Don’t feel like taking a monthly drive to the vet for a simple teeth cleaning? Well you can purchase a canine tooth-brushing kit or a soft piece of gauze to wrap around your finger! You’ll only need one trip to the vet to pick up some puppy safe toothpaste because fluoride, as found in regular toothpaste can cause a disruption in the enamel formation for younger dogs. Sometimes vets will even have mouthwash you can take home with you!
5. How to Brush a Dog’s Teeth
– Get your pup used to the idea of teeth brushing by rubbing her lips in a circular motion with your finger for 30-60 seconds for the first couple weeks then migrate to inside the mouth on teeth and gums.
– After your dog gets comfy, put a little of the doctor recommended toothpaste on the dog’s lips
– Massage the gums with the toothbrush or gauze
– Apply the toothpaste to the toothbrush
– Don’t brush too intensely because injured/inflamed gums can lead to mild gingivitis
– Place your brush at a 45 degree angle to the teeth and clean in tiny circle motions
– Brush 2-3 times a week, if your dog eats more moist food then you may need to brush more
6. Different Oral Diseases
–Periodontal Disease: Infection between the gum and tooth, resulting in tooth loss, stinky breath, excessive sneezing and difficulty chewing
–Gingivitis: Swollen gums due to increased tartar, plaque and harsh bacteria on the gum line. Symptoms include swollen, bleeding, red gums and stinky breath. Can be treated with regular teeth maintenance.
–Halitosis: Bad breath! Due to disease-producing bacteria left from food caught in teeth and gums
–Proliferating Gum Disease: Gums grow over teeth. Common among bull terriers and Boxers. Treated with antibiotics
–Mouth Tumors: Look like lumps in the gums. If malignant, will need surgery to remove.
–Salivary Cysts: Under the tongue or near the corners of the jaw, these look like big fluid-filled blisters. Treated by removal of infected saliva gland and drainage.
–Canine Distemper Teeth: Adult teeth appear eroded. Vets should remove any decayed teeth.
7. BIONIC Toys!
Chew toys (toxin-free rawhide toys, nylon or rubber) can be miracle workers from some dogs with tartar issues. Chewing on toys builds teeth strength, massage gums, scrape away tartar, reduces dogs’ stress levels and even keeps them entertained with fun. www.bionicplay.com
8. Watch your Dog’s Diet
No table scraps! Ask your local vet about DRY food specifically designed to reduce plaque and tartar build up.
9. Trick & Treat your Dog
Trick your dog into eating some teeth healthy treats! There are a lot of treats specifically created to clean your pup’s teeth.
Ex. Milk-bone & Greenies
10. Water Additives
Biotene is one water additive that is odorless, tasteless and colorless. By putting this in your pooch’s waterbowl, their breath will freshen, plaque will be removed and potentially harmful bacteria will be inhibited from growing. First two weeks, 4 pumps per quart of water are recommended, then reduce to 2 pumps per quart of water. If you have a hard time giving your pup a teeth brushing this is the next best thing for you! Make sure you get the pet version of this.
11. See a Vet
Even though this blog may have provided you the necessary skills to give your pup’s mouth a good clean, taking your dog for a checkup every 6-12 months would be a wise choice.
Thanks for dropping by and reading!
Sources:
http://voices.yahoo.com/ways-clean-dogs-teeth-freshen-their-breath-8539177.html
http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/thebasics/7-tips-for-doggie-dental-care
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-dental-health.aspx
http://www.hartz.com/Dogs/Health/Dental_Care/Keeping_Your_Dogs_Teeth_Clean.aspx
http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Your-Dog%27s-Breath-Fresh
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/pedigrees-tips-keeping-your-dogs-teeth-clean