Keep your dog’s breath fresh and their teeth sparkling with these tips!
When it comes to your dog’s health, there are many things to include in their wellness routine such as exercise, a healthy diet, and routine vet care. Apart from this basic care, their dental care often goes overlooked, but is just as important.
There are many things your dog’s teeth and gums can tell us, so it’s not only important to address it at home, but also check in with your local vet from time-to-time! At The Vet Set, we encourage strong oral hygiene at home, so take a moment with us today and explore our doggy dental tips!
The Importance of Doggy Dental Care
We stress oral hygiene so much in humans, but it’s just as important in our furry friends. If your dog has a toothache or sore gums, they’re dealing with discomfort you may not even know about, and even worse, if it’s left untreated, it could land bacteria in their major organ systems such as their liver, kidneys, or heart.
Older dogs (over fours years old) are also more susceptible to dental issues and veterinarians have reported that roughly 85% of these older dogs have some sort of dental issue.
What’s wonderful about dental health for your dog, is there are many preventative things you can do at home to avoid periodontal disease, tooth loss, or infection in your dog’s pearly whites.
Speaking of periodontal disease, yes, dog’s get it too! If periodontal disease is left untreated, it can affect your dog’s overall health with risks of heart disease and jaw damage, so dental health in dogs should be a part of their basic care.
Find out below the leading doggy dental tips!
Dental Care For Your Dog
While brushing and flossing your dog’s teeth are likely not going to happen (can you even floss your own teeth every day), there are tips and tricks to keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
Healthy Chews
While you won’t know what your dog will be into, hard chews and toys are excellent at keeping their teeth healthy. They efficiently scrape away plaque buildup and other debris, and most dogs love a good chew! Great natural choices are knucklebone and rawhide and for an alternative, rubber or nylon toys with a textured surface work well.
Hard food such as carrots and apples are also a great way to give them a fun snack and improve their oral hygiene.
Brushing
Now we know that brushing isn’t on the top of your list for things you love about your dog, but if they have exceptionally bad breath, brushing their teeth may help to get in there and assess their teeth.
Not only does brushing their teeth combat plaque buildup, but it can also lead to fresher breath. Brushing your dog’s teeth doesn’t have to happen every day — it’s like trimming their nails, you only have to do it as their nails get longer.
Most dogs don’t take to brushing their teeth, but in time it can become a normal thing. Before brushing your dog’s teeth, it’s important to get a toothpaste specific to dogs, which is delicious and contains ingredients that are safe for dogs.
You can apply the toothpaste with your finger, a canine toothbrush, or a scrubby pad that fits over your finger. If you have any questions about this, your local vet can give you recommendations.
Tooth Wipes
Dog wipes are a happy medium between brushing their teeth and chews. A tooth wipe is used to wipe away plaque and debris and while they won’t get the tiny nooks and crannies that a toothbrush will, they’re much easier to use than a toothbrush.
Dental Treats
Apart from hard, dental chews, are dental treats made specifically for your dog. Each treat has a specific shape to help remove plaque and debris that contain ingredients that clean and freshen their breath. Dogs tend to like the dental treats over getting their teeth brushed, so they’re a great supplemental or alternative option.
Professional Cleanings From The Vet
If you tackling your dog’s oral health is something you’d rather leave to the professionals, your local vet can do a professional cleaning! Not only can the vet do an excellent job, they can also assess to see if anything else is going on and look for infections in their teeth.
The vet is a great resource to prevent, locate, and treat dental health issues. If there is one option for promoting better oral health in your dog, taking them for a professional cleaning at your vet is a great option.
Your dog’s health is important, and their oral hygiene is just as important as trimming their nails or getting their vaccines. When you make your dog’s dental health a priority, you prevent other health issues and improve their overall health.
To schedule a dental checkup, call our Carroll Gardens veterinary office today!