Last Updated on January 19, 2023 by Kunthida
Every dog’s owner needs to realize that a dog’s dental disease is as important for pets as it is for human beings.
Just like in people, dogs’ teeth can gather plaque after eating. When plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar.
As tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease. This goes on in the mouths of dogs just like it does in people. Here’s how to deal with this problem:
Preventing Dog Dental Disease
Preventing dental disease is an important feature, which is to be paid more emphasis by dog lovers or dog owners. Dental disease is given priority in the health schedule of the dog nowadays because of the association of dental diseases with systemic diseases in the dogs.
Antibiotics need to be given in the initial stage of teeth infection itself and if not, this may cause specific infections and the organisms may spread to the other nearby regions like the oral mucous membrane and pharyngeal region, etc.
More acidic or alkaline food materials need not be given to the dogs to avoid possible teeth damage. Antibiotics need to be given in the initial stage of teeth infection itself and if not, this may cause specific infections and the organisms may spread to the other nearby regions like the oral mucous membrane and pharyngeal region, etc.
More acidic or alkaline food materials need not be given to the dogs to avoid possible teeth damage. If the dog is not given at its young age some bony material to bite on, the dog may develop some dental diseases later. The teething action often causes the animal to go for biting in an indiscriminate manner. Hence, the animal has to be given some biting materials to avoid the occurrence of dental diseases.
If there is evidence of bleeding from the oral region, the dog needs to be examined thoroughly for any dental abnormality. Mainly the puppies or sometimes, the adult dogs also may have teeth injuries. They need to be attended to immediately as a preventive step. If not, the animal may end up in secondary bacterial infections.
Hunting dogs need additional care associated with the dental structures and such care is needed to avoid future dental problems in such dogs. Brushes are available to provide better dental care to dogs. However, one has to allot more time and should have the patience to use such brushes in the case of dogs.
This may lead to further problems. Centers for disease control and prevention are trying to put up guidelines to prevent dental diseases in dogs in many nations. However, the oral examination needs to be carried out frequently in dogs and such activities help to rule out the emerging problems pertaining to the dentine structures at the beginning itself.
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Dog Dental Disease – Home Care
Home dental care is to be given more emphasis nowadays because of the fact that dental diseases are emerging in the case of pet animals like dogs to a greater extent. Though you are giving home dental care, if you suspect the extension of the dental diseases, then immediately approach the veterinarian for intervention.
Try to provide bone materials without very sharp points to the dogs and they may love to chew them and then swallow the bitten products. Such activities help them to go for the development of strong teeth structures in a natural manner.
Mind that the breeds of dogs like Pekingese, etc. are more prone to the development of teeth diseases because the teeth are closely crowned in the oral cavity be to the small size of these dogs. Hence, these dogs need to be checked up for excessive plaque formation in the home itself.
Recreational raw beef bones are wonderful materials to keep the teeth structures of your dog clean and free from the formation of plaque with the build-up of bacterial organisms. Teeth brushes are available for use with care in the case of dogs and one has to be careful during the usage of these brushes in dogs. Teeth brushes are to be used with special kinds of pastes recommended by veterinarians for home use in the case of dogs.
Specially prepared food materials are available in the pet shops to remove the tartar and the plaque materials from the teeth structures. Dry dog food and toys that are specially made to add strength to the teeth structures are often used at home for better teeth cleaning.
The plaque materials are intermittent to be removed at home to avoid any occurrence of periodontal diseases, which are more common among dogs. Dental wipes are available in pet shops and may be used carefully in the home. This helps to remove more plaque and the tartar-like materials that are loosely attached.
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Veterinary dental treatments
Veterinary dental treatments are more important. If the dental structures are not being looked at carefully, there are more chances for the development of periodontal diseases in dogs. Hence, veterinary dental treatments need to be paid maximum importance during the life of your dogs.
There are many advanced systems that deal with dental treatments that have come up in the market. Many systems are available with built-in water spray systems, double filter systems, autoclavable clips, and more.
Many veterinarians use high-speed fiber-optic handpieces with push-button turbines, two handpiece water jet systems, soundless water compressors, and more. The diagnosis of a condition pertaining to periodontal structure-based diseases is more important before the treatment.
Periodontal diseases are graded into minimal and moderate and severe diseases. Accordingly, the therapy is carried out, it is impossible to check all teeth by basic oral examination in the dog patient. Hence, general anesthesia is required before the examination of the teeth inside structures.
Surgical curettage is done in case of advanced periodontal diseases using flaps and the teeth extractions are also carried out using moderate force and more care is taken to avoid continuous bleeding.
Oral surgeries are undertaken after obtaining the dental radiographs in the dogs and by comparing the tissue damage with normal teeth structures. The concerned veterinarians assess the extent of damage in a systematic manner.
Periodontal diseases are controlled by the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics in an effective manner. Along with dental surgeries, oral treatment is done with many products that are helpful to prevent the attachment of tartar or plaque on the teeth.
However, reputable products should be used in the veterinary practice and the dog owner’s satisfaction is given more priority during veterinary dental therapy.
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Dog Dental Disease: Most Frequently Diagnosed Health Problems
Do you consider yourself a good dog owner? Is Fido not only the happiest pup on the block but also the healthiest?
There are nearly 44 million U.S. households that own approximately 74 million dogs. Although many of these owners treat their dog more like a family member and less like an animal, most are unaware of one of the biggest health risks for their dog.
Periodontal disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets. In fact, more than 80 percent of dogs have it by the time they are 4 years old.
Periodontal disease begins when bacteria and food debris build up along the dog’s gum line. Plaque is created and, soon after, tartar forms on the teeth. Eventually, the gums swell and pockets form that can trap bacteria and lead to more serious problems.
“Doggy breath, loose teeth, bleeding gums, mouth pain, and even infections in the heart, liver, and kidney are signs of advanced periodontal disease,”
says Jan Bellows, DVM, and owner of Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Weston, Fla.
“To avoid these health problems, owners must take steps to care for their dog’s teeth-much as they care for their own.”
Only one in five owners have ever attempted to brush their pet’s teeth and only 2 percent brush with enough frequency to maintain proper oral health.
In addition to brushing, Dr. Bellows uses ORAVET, a plaque-prevention gel that stops disease-causing bacteria from attaching to the teeth. It is the only sealant available on the market.
After an in-clinic cleaning, the sealant is applied to the dog’s teeth, creating an invisible barrier that reduces bacterial plaque adhesion. Owners then apply the odorless, tasteless homecare gel to the dog’s teeth once a week. It typically takes less than a minute to apply.
“As a veterinarian and as a pet owner, this gel gives me a valuable tool in preventing oral disease in dogs,”
says Dr. Bellows,
“It’s easy to use and is a perfect complement to tooth brushing, dental diets, and dental chews.”
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Demonstration of Dental Cleaning for a Canine
Is Dental Care Important For Your Dog?
If only we could get our pets to brush their teeth regularly! Well you know that can’t happen . . . but we can help our dogs take care of their teeth and gums.
They don’t, of course, realize how important dental care is to their health (and maybe you didn’t realize it either).
Following are some facts about dental problems that may either be causing your dog discomfort right now or might soon affect your dog’s health; we’ll also give you some tips on treating those problems.
Gingivitis: Gingivitis is a gum disease that occurs when gum tissue becomes inflamed. If not treated, gingivitis will lead to periodontitis (described below); if it is not treated, gingivitis will cause your dog to start losing teeth.
Periodontitis: Periodontitis is an advanced gum disease that attacks not only the gums but also the bones that underlie the gums. Commonly called periodontal disease, this is the most common dental problem for dogs. Even relatively young dogs may have Periodontitis or the earlier-stage gum disease, gingivitis.
Imagine a year or two of buildup on your dog’s teeth — the buildup of plaque, food particles, and bacteria. If your dog has gum disease you may not have to imagine it, you will probably be able to see a near-white substance coating the teeth and gums — that’s the result of the bacteria.
Tooth fractures: Dogs love to gnaw on things like bones and when they do they might develop small breaks -fractures of their teeth. Endodontic disease is the name for infections that develop inside these fractures.
Preventing the problems mentioned above is as simple as keeping your dog’s teeth clean. Clean teeth mean fewer bacteria and fewer bacteria means less disease . . . and the extra bonus of no more ‘doggie-breath.’
Brushing your dog’s teeth. The best way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is by brushing them every day. That may sound like an impossible task but its really not. Over time, if you approach it slowly and lovingly, your dog will accept tooth brushing as an enjoyable daily activity.
Important: If you think that your dog has gum disease or fractured teeth take the dog to a vet to have the condition treated and cleared up before you try brushing the teeth yourself. If the dog has diseased gums, any attempt at tooth brushing may be painful and from then on the dog will associate tooth brushing with pain.
Ideally, you should start brushing a dog’s teeth when it’s a puppy. As a puppy this will be more of a game than a threat and, over time, it will turn into an activity the puppy loves.
If your dog is older and has healthy-looking teeth and gums, introduce it to a toothbrush by coating an old toothbrush with something the dog likes to taste; one suggestion is a paste made out of garlic salt and water. Let the dog lick it and even chew on it for just a second.
The next day, the dog will recognize the toothbrush in your hand and come running over for another “treat.” Gradually work your way into brushing its teeth like that, day-by-day.
Eventually you’ll need to get a toothbrush and toothpaste that is made specifically for pets; you’ll find both in any good pet supply store. It is especially important to find a toothpaste that is made for pets; don’t try to use toothpaste made for people. Human toothpaste isn’t intended for ingestion and since your dog can’t ‘spit it out you need to get a toothpaste that won’t make the dog sick when some amount is swallowed.
There are two types of pet toothbrushes, one looks like a human toothbrush that is designed to brush a small child’s teeth and the other is a finger brush. A finger brush looks like a large thimble with a pad or bristles mounted on it. Both types of toothbrushes are fairly inexpensive so you may want to purchase one of each and see which one works best for you.
Either way, as long as the toothpaste tastes good to your dog, it won’t mind you ‘messing around in its mouth and, eventually, it will even look forward to the daily ritual.
Have your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned. If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to or you can’t brush your dog’s teeth yourself, take it to a veterinarian and have the vet give the dog’s teeth a professional cleaning. The vet will sedate your dog and do all the necessary scraping and cleaning of the teeth while the dog is sleeping.
Give your dog a checkup. It’s a great idea to give your dog’s mouth a regular checkup. You’ll be looking for any broken, chipped or cracked teeth or any signs that the gums are not healthy. If you see any problems, get the dog to a veterinarian as soon as you can.
Protect your dog’s teeth. Sometimes dogs need to be protected from themselves. A dog will chew on anything and the really hard things like some bones, rocks, and other very hard items may eventually crack or break the dog’s teeth. Get rid of the hard stuff and buy your dog some softer chew toys.
Buy some mouthwash for your dog. Nope! Not kidding! There are mouthwash products for dogs and just ignore that mental picture of trying to get your dog to gargle. You just add some of the mouthwash to your dog’s water dish and the mouthwash will not only improve your dog’s breath but will also keep the dog’s teeth clean and free of tarter.
As you can see, dogs have dental problems that are very similar to human dental problems and they benefit from dental care just like we do. For all the products suggested here for your dog’s dental care, ask your veterinarian for his or her recommendations on the best products to use. Your vet is your dog’s doctor and should be trusted like you trust your own doctor.
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Brush Up On Your Dog’s Dental Health
Many pet owners may be surprised to learn a dog’s dental health is as important to overall well-being as a daily game of fetch.
Dental problems in pets go way beyond bad breath. Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in dogs today. At least 80 percent of dogs suffer from it by age 2. Left untreated, dental problems can be very painful and affect the quality of a pet’s life.
Small-breed dogs under 20 pounds are at an even greater risk than larger breeds. First, small dogs have small mouths that crowd the teeth, and second, those teeth are excessively large for those small jaws.
Fortunately, small breeds don’t need to suffer, says Dr. Daniel Carmichael, a veterinary dental specialist with the Veterinary Medical Center in West Islip, N.Y. He recommends:
1. See your veterinarian for regular dental checkups
Work with your vet to schedule regular professional dental checkups and ask how you can maintain your pet’s dental health. Monitor for bad breath, which can be a sign of a more serious dental problem.
2. Brush those canines
Daily tooth brushing is the best way to remove and prevent plaque build-up. You can try the new state-of-the-art Hartz® Dental™ Electric Tooth-brush to make brushing your dog’s teeth easier.
It features a vibrating brush head and, when used as directed, is clinically proven to reduce tartar by 85 percent and plaque by 28 percent after three weeks. Use toothpaste made for dogs (the beef-flavored paste is appealing to pets) as it’s designed to be swallowed and does not foam up in the mouth.
3. Choose smart snacks for your dog
Chewing rawhide has been proven in clinical studies to help reduce plaque and tartar. Tasty beef and chicken flavors encourage your pooch to chew longer, increasing the dental benefits.
4. Provide toys with dental benefits
Some newer chew toys have raised tips that help remove plaque and tartar. The Hartz® Dental Chew & Clean® Deli Cuts are one example and come in three yummy flavors. These toys provide chewing exercises to strengthen gums and help relieve anxiety and boredom.
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