Tips For Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Brushing your dog's teeth serves much more than just keeping your dog's breath clean, it also helps to keep your dogs health in top shape as well.

Gum disease is fairly common in most dogs, as most people don't even think about brushing their dog's teeth. If people did brush their dog's teeth, much of the periodontal problems in dogs could be prevented.

Veterinarians estimate that roughly 85 per cent of dogs that are over 5 years in age have gum problems, which develops when bacteria forms from food particles that stick to teeth. A soft lining called plaque forms along the gum line and if it is not removed by brushing will harden, and eventually inflame the gums of the dog.

This can loosen the teeth, form pockets in and around the tooth area, and even spread bacteria out into the general circulatory system of the dog, reaching the heart, liver, kidneys, and the brain.

The ideal thing is to brush your dog's teeth each day, and if that is not possible, then try to accomplish this several times per week. If your dog is one of the breeds that have a short, flat snout, such as pugs and bulldogs, more frequent brushing attempts should be made, as their teeth are crowded together and have more areas for plaque to form.

You can buy doggie toothbrushes at your favorite pet store, and if the toothbrush thing is not what your dog prefers, you can get a little plastic or rubber nipple that fits over a finger with a slightly roughened surface on the end for brushing. If all that fails, just slip a piece of gauze over your finger and use that.

Be sure and get toothpaste that is made for dogs, and don't use your toothpaste, as your dog will swallow a lot of it, possibly upsetting his stomach. Toothpaste for pets comes in different flavors, such as chicken, liver, mint and peanut butter.

You can experiment a bit in this area, or offer a different flavor every so often to keep your dog interested. Move slowly, as dogs are sensitive when you get to messing with their mouth. You can start with your finger, and see what works the best, and soon your dog will trust you, and you will be heading off more serious issues in the long run than just bad doggie breath.

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6 Questions To Ask Your Vet About Your Dog

When you are visiting the vet it is important to decide exactly what to ask him just like you would a human doctor. Since your dog cannot tell you what's wrong with her, it is up to you to voice her concerns. The next time you visit the vet for your dogs' annual check-up be sure to ask the veterinarian the following 6 questions.

Is my dog at a healthy weight?

Obesity in dogs is as much of a problem as obesity in human beings. The main causes of obesity are: overfeeding, lack of exercise, and poor diet. Dogs require at least half an hour of exercise daily and many don't get enough. Ask the vet for your dog's ideal weight. If she's underweight, ask how much more food you should be giving her. If she's overweight, discuss with the vet about a diet and fitness program and ensure that you stick with it.

Does my dog need a dental cleaning?

Once your dog has turned 3 or 4, you should start having your vet monitor her dental health. As pets generally age, they tend to develop similar dental diseases as humans. Vets will recommend that you brush your dog's teeth daily. However, if this isn't possible, you should at least clean her teeth regularly so that she doesn't begin to develop periodontal disease or tartar.

Does my dog need a blood test?

All pets need to get an annual blood test to screen for liver and kidney disease, diabetes, cancer as well as other congenital illnesses that are treatable if detected early enough. Your dog should be no exception as the blood test is critical in maintaining her overall quality of health.

Should I be giving my dog more appropriate food?

The pet food industry has made remarkable progress in the development of healthy foods that are high in protein but low in fillers. However, few people choose premium food for their dogs. Discuss with your vet about the type of food you are currently giving her and ask for recommendations on healthy, age-appropriate food for your dog.

My dog is acting weird. Any idea why?

If you observe any behavioral changes in your dog such as aggression or elimination, inform you vet about it. Since dogs don't speak as us humans, they result to bad behavior to let you as their guardian know that something is just not right inside.

What are these lumps and bumps on my dog?

As all pets age, they naturally develop moles, bumps, and lumps. Age here is the main culprit for the development of any of these. However, you need to ensure that none of these lumps are cancerous. Point out to the vet any hard bumps, strange moles, or fatty lumps and ask for a biopsy if necessary.

Those are the 6 main questions that you need to ask your vet when you take your dog for her next annual check-up. You however, need to take your dog to the vet for the annual check-up. If you find your dog having even the slightest behavioral changes, you need to take it to the vet.

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Why Are My Dog's Teeth Stained?

Most people don't spend a lot of time thinking about their dog's teeth. Not until they notice their dog has stained teeth, tartar, bad breath or bad teeth. The truth is that your dog's teeth are very much like your own. They need attention throughout your dog's life. Your dog's teeth can become stained the same way that yours can - from the things he eats and from not being brushed or cared for.

Left unattended for years, your dog's teeth will become stained and yellow. They can even become brown and develop tooth decay. Many dogs develop very bad teeth by the time they are seniors which can mean they have problems eating. This can lead to them losing weight or having health problems. These problems often go unnoticed because people think that bad breath, weight loss and lack of appetite are signs of old age when, in fact, your older dog is not eating because of his dental problems.

You can prevent many of these problems later in life by caring for your dog's teeth throughout his life. This will stop any staining before it starts. There are some good ways to care for your dog's teeth and none of them are very labor-intensive for you.

1. Brush your dog's teeth regularly. This isn't hard to do and it only takes a few minutes each week. You can buy a toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs (beef or peanut flavor are good choices) at your local pet store. A little dab of the toothpaste and most dogs think it's a treat to have their teeth brushed.

Dental Chews

2. Provide your dog with dental chews. Several companies make them and you can buy them at the pet store or where you buy dog food.

3. Give your dog raw bones to chew and eat. Raw bones are great for scraping the teeth and keeping them pearly white. You can give your dog chicken wings or necks, for instance. Marrow bones are also good. Make sure they are raw - cooked bones can cause problems.

Hill's Science Oral Care dog food

4. If your dog has teeth that are in really bad shape you may want to consider a dog food that is designed to clean the teeth and remove tartar. There are a couple of these dental dog foods on the market.

At some point in your dog's life, he may need to have his teeth cleaned by your veterinarian but this is not a routine procedure at this time. It requires the use of anesthesia to put your dog to sleep. If your dog needs a tooth removed or has some other specific problem, most people get the teeth cleaned at that time.

If you follow the suggestions offered here to keep your dog's teeth clean then your dog shouldn't have any staining.

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