Oral hygiene is an often overlooked yet significant factor in the overall health of your dog. When your dog is suffering from sore gums or a toothache, you might not even detect any signs that he is dealing with stress and pain. And when this is left untreated, bacteria can go into the bloodstream and affect his liver, kidney or heart.

Common Dental Problems In Dogs

·       Loose Teeth – This is not a problem for puppies, but for an adult dog, this can be a sign of illness. Also, this may be a result of trauma to the mouth or from gum loss because of periodontal disease. Often, a loose tooth will not correct itself, and your vet might suggest an extraction.
·       Misaligned teeth – This is characterized by your dog having difficulty in chewing. The vet will realign the teeth or perhaps provide relief by capping or extracting a problem tooth.
·       Periodontal Disease – Your canine’s toys might give a clue to his dental health. When he leaves spots of blood on them, this indicates bleeding and swollen gums, and these are symptoms of periodontal disease. Removing tartar through professional tooth cleaning can prevent the occurrence of such disease.
·       Tooth Trauma – This may be a result of your dog chewing on the wrong objects, specifically those that are solid and rigid. As such, it is very crucial that you monitor what he chews on. Whenever you see a broken or cracked tooth, visit the vet immediately.
·       Tooth Root Abscess – This happens when the root of the tooth is exposed to bacteria. Signs indicating that your canine is suffering from this problem include difficulty eating and tipping his head to one side. Let the vet deal with such a problem quickly.
Dog owners must be aware that all of these problems can be prevented with regular dental check-ups and cleanings.

Tips for Keeping Your Dog’s Teeth and Gums Healthy

1. Brush your dog’s teeth

Brushing your canine’s teeth will be difficult at first, but with enough patience and many yummy rewards, you can definitely turn tooth brushing into an excellent bonding experience with your pet. Begin by allowing him to smell the toothbrush and pet toothpaste. Gradually, work your way to brushing for at least 30 seconds on each side of his mouth every other day.

2. Visit your dog’s dentist regularly

Going to the dentist on a regular basis will help you discover small problems before they become worse. By taking your dog to the vet at least once a year for dental exams and cleanings, different signs of dental disease that cause pain to your furry friend can be checked. These will include inflamed gums, bad breath, broken teeth, and tartar.

During the dental exam, your pet’s medical history will be asked by the vet. He will also ask if you have noticed any signs of bad breath. After that, he will examine your pet for any abnormalities. Lastly, he will check out your canine’s teeth and gums for bleeding, inflammation, and redness. He will also check for cracked teeth, tooth loss, tartar, plaque, and potentially cancerous bumps and lumps.

There are instances wherein the vet will sedate your pet. This may be scary for you, but it is not actually as bad as it seems. Bear in mind that prior to sedating your dog, the vet will recommend pre-screening tests to make sure that your canine is healthy enough to be sedated.

3. Buy him some dental chews

Brushing chews will have ridges and nubs that will clean like bristles on a toothbrush. This will also contain ingredients that will help fight tartar and plaque formation to ensure healthy, strong teeth. Moreover, these dental chews are primarily designed to help clean the back teeth of your dog, which can be very hard to reach.

4. Invest in vet-approved toys

Dogs love to chew on toys. It is highly advised that you must get him toys and other dog accessories that will also help clean his teeth. However, you must not buy just any toy because some can be hard on teeth and may even break them. Consider asking your vet to suggest a dental chew toy that is best suited for your canine.

5. Give him therapeutic dry kibble

Your vet might recommend feeding him a customized dental diet in order to improve his oral health. This kibble type is usually larger and has an abrasive texture to help prevent plaque build-up. Some dental foods also contain ingredients that will help minimize tartar formation. You can further boost his immune responses by giving him vitamin treats.

6. Mix medicated rinses with his water

Medicated rinses can help make the surface of your dog’s teeth less vulnerable to bacteria and plaque. Your vet may recommend the best products and point you to the best place to buy it. All you have to do is to add it to your furry friend’s water or perhaps spray it in his mouth. These medicated rinses can also aid in combatting stinky breath. Remember, though, that this is not a substitute for brushing.

Caring for your dog’s teeth and gums is not as daunting as you might think. With these tips, you can definitely help keep your pet’s adorable smile healthy and his teeth shiny at all times.

AUTHOR BIO

Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pets Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a BSC in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brand including P&G, Savic, Zolux, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.