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Dental Care

  • Dog’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your vet to check for early signs of a problem and to keep dog’s mouth healty

  • Veterinary dentistry – includes, cleaning, adjustment, filing, extraction or repair of the dog’s teeth

  • Processes begins with an oral exam – X-rays may be needed to evaluate the health of the jaw and tooth roots below the gum line

  • Most dental disease occur below the gum line – a thorough dental cleaning and evaluation are performed under anesthesia

  • Cleaning includes – scaling (removing plaque and tartar) and polishing

Important part of dog’s over health – dental problems
can cause, or be caused by other health problems

  • Bad breath

  • Broken or loose teeth

  • Extra teeth or retained baby teeth

  • Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar

  • Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth

  • Reduced appetite or refusal to eat

  • Pain in or around the mouth

  • Bleeding from the mouth

  • Swelling in the areas around the mouth

If you observe any of the following, take your dog to get checked sooner​

  • Broken teeth and roots

  • Periodontal disease

  • Abscesses or infected teeth

  • Cysts or tumors in the mouth

  • Malocclusion or misalignment of the teeth and bite

  • Broken jaw

  • Palate defects

Common dental problems:​

By the time dog is 3 years old, they are very likely to have early signs of disease, which will worsen as the dog grows older if not treated

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  • Early detection is critical, because advances in the disease can cause sever problems and pain

  • Disease can cause other health problems – kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes

  • How disease starts – plaque that hardens into tartar above the gum line – can be easily seen and removed

  • However, plaque and tartar below the gum line is damaging and can cause infection and damage to the jawbone and the tissues that connect the tooth to the jaw bone

  • Treatment: involves thorough dental cleaning and x-rays in order to determine the severity of the disease

Periodontal disease (most common)

  • Best way to prevent dental issues is to take care of your dogs teeth at home

  • Things to have for At Home Dental Care:

  • Brush dog’s teeth daily (most effective)

  • Make sure to use a dog toothpaste

  • Recommended to use toothpastes that contain: chlorhexidine, hexametaphosphate, or zinc gluconate

  • Flavored toothpaste can make it easier

Main reasons for dogs get gum disease – if teeth are not brushed daily

  • Use brushed designed for dogs – they are smaller, softer, and shaped differently

  • Finger brushes that fit over your finger can be easier

  • For some dogs, starting out with a sponge or pad may be easier since they are more pliable

  • Sponges have are small, have a handle, and are disposable – known to be softer than brushes

  • Pads can help remove debris from teeth and gums, however they do not provide the mechanical actions that brushes do

  • Feed dog good-quality pet food

  • Let dog enjoy daily chew time

  • Oral rinses

Toothbrushes, sponges, and pads:

  • Be upbeat and take things slowly – do not restrain your dog

  • Keep sessions short and positive – make sure to praise your dog throughout the process

  • Have dog get used to the taste of toothpaste – flavors of poultry, malt, will help dog like the taste

  • Let dog lick some off your finger – when dog licks the paste, make sure to praise or give a treat

  • Continue step for a few days until dog starts looking forward to licking the paste

  • Make dog feel comfortable with having something placed against teeth and gums

  • Apply a small amount of paste to your finger and gently rub it one of the front teeth

  • Front teeth are easiest to accesses and practice

  • Make sure to praise and give treat

  • Once dog is used to steps one and two – get dog used to the toothbrush or sponge you will be using

  • Let dog lick toothpaste of the brush/sponge, in order for dog to get used to the texture of the tool

  • Praise your dog and continue step for a week

  • Once dog is used to toothpaste, toothbrush, and having something in its mouth – no you can start brushing!

  • Talk to dog in a happy voice during the process and make sure to praise at the end

  • Gently lift upper lip and place brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line

  • Gently move brush back and forth

  • Not necessary to brush the inside surface of teeth because the movement of the tongue over the inside surface keeps them relatively free of plaque

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Where to Begin at Home Dental Care:

Water-piks: Especially useful for dogs with gum disease, who bleed if brush is used – Help the common problem of “doggie breath”

  • Chlorhexidine is added to water to kill the bacteria in the mouth

  • Water stream removes the plaque from teeth

Food: Proven that hard kibbles are better at keeping plaque from accumulating on teeth than other foods

  • There are veterinary dentist approved food on the market that can also be helpful

  • Studies show that dogs eating this food have less plaque and calculus build-up

  • Avoid feeding dogs table scraps or sweets because it can increase the build of plaque and tartar

Toys: Removal of plaque can be done through toys such as Plaque Attacker dental toys, rope toys, or rawhide chips

  • Do not use toys that are abrasive – can cause the wear down of teeth

  • If dog is an aggressive chewer, use toys that are not hard

  • Always supervise dog when using a toy

Treats: Some dental chews are specifically designed to help control plaque and tartar build up

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Other Dental Care Products​:

  • Be upbeat and take things slowly – do not restrain your dog

  • Keep sessions short and positive – make sure to praise your dog throughout the process

  • Have dog get used to the taste of toothpaste – flavors of poultry, malt, will help dog like the taste

  • Let dog lick some off your finger – when dog licks the paste, make sure to praise or give a treat

  • Continue step for a few days until dog starts looking forward to licking the paste

  • Make dog feel comfortable with having something placed against teeth and gums

  • Apply a small amount of paste to your finger and gently rub it one of the front teeth

  • Front teeth are easiest to accesses and practice

  • Make sure to praise and give treat

  • Once dog is used to steps one and two – get dog used to the toothbrush or sponge you will be using

  • Let dog lick toothpaste of the brush/sponge, in order for dog to get used to the texture of the tool

  • Praise your dog and continue step for a week

  •  Once dog is used to toothpaste, toothbrush, and having something in its mouth – no you can start brushing!

  • Talk to dog in a happy voice during the process and make sure to praise at the end

  • Gently lift upper lip and place brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line

  • Gently move brush back and forth

  • Not necessary to brush the inside surface of teeth because the movement of the tongue over the inside surface keeps them relatively free of plaque

Affects of Dental Disease:

  • Best way to ensure optimum oral health is to provide the dog with a well-balanced, meat-based dog food

  • Meat assists in keeping the mouth healthy

  • Actively encouraging the dog to utilize chew treats that require some exercising of the teeth, can assist in keeping the mouth structures vital

  • Brushing dog’s teeth daily, is a very effective method to keep oral hygiene at top shape

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Prevention:
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