Are You Neglecting Your Dog’s Mouth?
Monday, March 16th, 2009
Your dog can't use a toothbruth...
You come home after a long day of work and your dog jumps up on you to give you a few “welcome home” kisses, and as much as you’d like to return the favor, you just can’t stand how bad your dog’s breath stinks. Many people simply think that, since it’s a dog the breath will stink. This isn’t true – your dog’s breath shouldn’t stink and if it does, you’ve probably been neglecting your dog’s mouth and bad breath could be an offensive sign of bad teeth and gum health.
Over at the doggie daycare where I work, I see tons of dogs – young dogs – with teeth and gum problems. Obvious plaque build-up yellows the teeth and cause bad breath along with hard-to-miss discoloration of the gums. For some reason people pay attention to their own teeth and gums, but when it comes to dogs they seem to consider dog’s teeth and gums magically immune to any kind of upkeep on the owner’s part. That’s silly.
By as young as three-years-old there are more than 80% of dogs showing signs of gum disease according to the American Veterinarian Dental Society. This is because two-thirds of dog owners don’t give their dogs the recommended dental care. Gum disease can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss, chipped or fractured teeth, infection and even a domino effect of heart, lung and kidney disease.
Out of all of the health problems your dog can experience over the years from a puppy to a senior, it’s baffling how common gum disease and bad teeth are common in dogs considering it’s one of the few health problems owners can take care of without the help of a veterinarian by simply using a few simple strategies that don’t involve a lot of work or money on your part at all.
The following are a few simple ways you can provide your dog with life-long healthy teeth and gums:
• Dry Food: Although it may seem tempting to spoil your pooch with lots of wet dog food, a diet of dry dog food helps keep your dog’s teeth clean due to the abrasive texture.
• Treats: By treats, I don’t mean table scraps like bacon – this can get stuck in your dog’s teeth causing bad breath and plaque build up and gum disease. However, there are tons of doggie treats that are specifically designed to improve your dog’s breath and clean your dog’s teeth and make your dog healthier overall, such as Milk-Bones.
• Provide The Right Toys: Never let your dog play with a toy that’s harder than its teeth, this can lead to chipped teeth. Toys like nylon bones are perfect for providing your pooch with some play time while simultaneously cleaning its teeth. Just ask your local pet-store serviceperson to help you find toys that are good for your dog’s oral health.
• Brushing: Brushing your dog’s teeth three times a week will keep healthy teeth and gums. Use a soft toothbrush and make sure to start the habit early if you can, so your dog accepts it and does not fight you. Never use human toothpaste, though – only use toothpaste designed specifically for dogs.
If your dog is older and brushing its teeth is too cumbersome, you can try a finger toothbrush. It’s a small brush that fits snugly over your index finger like a glove and is much easier and more easy-going inside your dog’s mouth than a conventional toothbrush.
Healthy teeth and gums with dogs doesn’t just come from the outside, it comes from the inside. Health supplements filled with the correct vitamins and minerals can help improve your dog’s overall health and strengthen your dog’s teeth and fight off disease. Proud Dog Complete Wellness is one of the best dog health supplements on the market and it’s amazing all-in-one formula helps promote healthy teeth and gums in your dog as well as extra support for joint health, immune system, enhanced skin and coat, healthier digestive system, fatty acids for overall health and 24 other vitamins and minerals.
Make sure you keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy from both the inside and outside with the practices listed above as well as Proud Dog Complete Wellness dog supplements for healthy teeth and gums and… well … everything else.
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