Dental hygiene is extremely important in dogs, especially considering that gum disease can affect their overall health. Most dogs that have bad breath also have periodontal disease which is from plaque buildup. This can lead to a bacteria infection which in turn can enter their bloodstream, spreading to their liver, kidneys, heart and brain. If you don't brush your dogs teeth, it's never too late to start! You'll simply need a toothbrush, some toothpaste and a little patience.First of all, never use human toothpaste. Human toothpaste is not edible and since dogs can't spit, they'll end up swallowing the toothpaste. There are a lot of toothpastes and brushes out there that are made just for dogs. For toothpaste, find one that you think your dog will like or you can make your own. For the toothbrush, you don't need to buy one that's just for dogs because human toothbrushes work just fine. Just make sure to buy a soft bristle one. If you want an eco-friendly toothbrush, you can do what we do and purchase one from Preserve. The handle is made from 100% recycled plastic and when you're ready to replace it, you can send it back to them to be recycled into plastic lumber.
To start, wet the toothbrush, put some toothpaste on it and offer it to your dog as you would a treat. Let them lick the toothpaste off for a few days without attempting to brush their teeth. If they won't lick it off of the toothbrush, then put a little toothpaste on a treat and give it to them like that for a few days before once again offering it to them on the brush. Once you're confident that they see the toothbrush and paste as a positive experience, start by gently holding their head and softly rubbing their teeth in a circular motion with the brush. You may need to start off by just doing a little of this and adding on more brushing time every day (and yes, you should do this every day). Giving them a lot of praise and love during this time is vital, so if you find yourself getting frustrated, stop and let it go for that day. The more you make this a daily routine, the more they'll grow accustomed to it, so patience will pay off!
Giving your dog harder things to chew on can also help their dental health. Emma and Rowan love to chew on Nylabones as well as their hemp rope toys from Earth Dog. We've also found that since we started feeding Emma mostly kibble that her breath got much better. Even with daily brushing, her breath got really bad and I believe it was from the soft food she was eating. We still give her plenty of veggies and healthy treats, of course, but the kibble seemed to help not only her digestive issues (which is another story in itself), but her bad breath, too.
Happy toofer brushing, everyone!
Great post ;-)
ReplyDeletePeople often think I'm mad for brushing my dogs' teeth, but like you say, it's so important!
When we first adopted our greyhound Molly, her teeth were in very bad condition. (Greyhounds in general tend to have bad teeth - I'm not 100% sure why but I've heard it is related to the high protein wet food they are fed during their racing careers.) She needed dental work under anaesthetic right away, when they removed 4 of her teeth. Then a couple of month's later one of her remaining teeth cracked & she had to have a couple more out. It was then I started brushing her (& my other dog, Max's) teeth.
I just use a very soft children's toothbrush along with a 'doggie' toothpaste I buy from our local pet store. Molly LOVES having her teeth brushed - she always wants the toothbrush afterwards so she can lick it clean & tries to butt in when I'm brushing Max's teeth so she can have hers done again! Max is a little more indifferent but certainly doesn't hate it.
Our vet also showed me how to scrape off tartar (or is it plaque? the crusted on hard bits at the gum line!) while my dogs are lying relaxed & I feed them dry kibble only so that they have to crunch it & it doesn't coat their teeth in the way wet foods do.
I don't want them to have to suffer the pain of dental inflammation or the complications of infection &, after one of my close friends tragically lost her young greyhound whilst under anaesthetic for a routine procedure, I want to avoid them having general anaesthetics if at all possible.
It's so wonderful how well you take care of Max & Molly, Jane. You're a great mama! Rowan is just like Molly. She loves having her teeth brushed and will always wait to lick on Emma's a bit when she's having hers done. :)
ReplyDelete