Dog Dental Care - A Very Important Part to Your Dog's Health

Teeth Matter

Taking care of your dog's teeth should start shortly after you get your dog. And what I mean by taking care of your dog's teeth isn't just feeding the occasional dental chew or raw bone and then making a an appointment with your veterinarian for  a dental cleaning every 2-3 years. What I mean is that you need to be pro-active in the health of your dog's teeth and gums with teeth brushing and a few other products.

"According to Dr. Brooke Niemiec, diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College and a fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, oral/dental disease is the number one medical problem among pets today, with over 70 percent of dogs and cats suffering some form of periodontal disease by the age of two." - Preventing Oral Disease

We tend to ignore things until things are really overt and our pets' show discomfort and pain.  Daily routines can help your dog's overall health.   The goal is to prevent plaque (bacterial film) accumulation and/or the formation of tartar (the mineralization of plaque into calculus).

I have two dogs: Gunner (11) and Isabella (10). Isabella enjoys her teeth brushing that she willingly flops down in front of me to clean one side then flops over onto the other side for me to continue. Gunner on the other hand.... teeth brushing is his WORST husbandry care that he avoids.  Gunner has had his lower and upper molars pulled from the right side of his jaw. He has one small upper molar on that right side that doesn't look so good, so I'm paying a lot of attention to it.

So my current routine is to brush their teeth every three days and every day to do micro-training sessions. My goal with Gunner is simply to develop a positive conditioned emotional response to the presence of the tooth brush and tooth paste. I'm using "touch" as a cue for him to approach. I use 70% or more of hand touch to a lesser % of him touching the tooth brush in my hand. His first response on the sight of the toothbrush and tooth-paste to is leave the area. Doing the daily "non-invasive" work with him to brushing his teeth has made him more comfortable and a lot easier to do.

Signs of oral and dental disease:

• bad breath
• teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
• your dog avoids or turns away when you touch the mouth area
• drooling or not eating well
• bleeding from the mouth
• loss of appetite or loss of weight

Periodontal Disease can lead to a lot of health problems for your dog.  The build up of plaque irritates the gums which can lead to the gums bleeding and being painful. This can lead to infection of the bone surrounding the teeth.  Bacteria surrounding the roots can gain access to the blood stream. Dogs with severe periodontal disease show to have more damage done to their kidneys, heart muscle, and liver then dogs with healthier teeth.

Tools 

Get yourself organized with a dental kit. Here is an example:

• large and small size toothbrush
• 3 sided toothbrush
• interdental brushes
• dog specific toothpaste
• canine oral rinse

CAUTION if you are choosing to use a scaling dental tool. You are more likely to scratch the enamel of the tooth leading to a breeding ground for bacteria causing more problems then you think. If you are going to scale, you'll need to polish and again... if you don't know what you are doing, you may end up destroying the enamel. 

Here's a video from Donna Hill on how to start teaching your dog how to be comfortable with the setting operations. Teeth Brushing: Teaching a Dog to Be Comfortable & Calm

The Veterinary Oral Health Council maintains a list of products that have earned its seal of approval. The list includes certain types of rawhides and chews, as well as specially formulated dental gels, sealants, and water additives. VOHC website

There is some controversy over dental cleaning by a professional. Traditionally your dog has to be put on anesthesia for the procedure which can take up to 45 minutes. There have been others that offer non-anesthesia procedures. Consult with your veterinarian what would be best for your pet as there are some risks to anesthesia and without it , you can't expect the same level of tooth care or cleaning.

The benefits of being diligent in your dog's teeth brushing are: 1) it will save you money on professional dental cleanings 2) you get to be very aware of your dog's mouth health  3) extend the time between professional dental cleanings 4) by frequently brushing you will safe your dog's teeth and gums.

Here is a tooth that has plaque build up.








What does bad teeth look like?

If you have a preferred toothpaste or oral rinse, I would love to hear what you use and why.

If you would like help training your dog to be comfortable and calm for dental brushing... contact me!