Tips For Taking Care Of Your Dog's Teeth
Caring for your dog's teeth is an important part of their overall health. Failure to take care of your dog's teeth can result in costly dental procedures at the veterinarian's office. It is not difficult to take care of your dog's teeth at home once you know what to do. The suggestions given below should prove helpful in securing your dog's dental health.
Buy Chewing Treats or Toys
Chewing is one of the best ways to ensure that your dog gets their teeth cleaned. Look for treats that have official seals of approval by a veterinary oral council to ensure that your dog is getting the best possible dental benefit out of any treats. You can also purchase chew toys to help clean your dog's teeth. When purchasing chew toys, you should ensure that they have a rough surface, since this will greatly assist in the removal of plaque from your dog's teeth. You should also make sure the toys are non-toxic so look at the labels and make sure they are non-toxic and made of natural rubber.
Brush Your Dog's Teeth
You will need to use a tooth gel made for dogs. Never use human toothpastes to clean your dog's teeth. It contains ingredients that will make your dog sick when it is swallowed. You will also need to purchase a dog toothbrush which has softer bristles than human toothbrushes. If your dog is still a puppy, you can get a finger brush. The first time you brush your dog's teeth you will need to follow the steps below:
- You should get your dog comfortable with you handling their mouth—a good start to this is to dip one of your fingers into some soft foods that your dog likes and then rubbing your fingers on his gums.
- Move slowly when you first start brushing your dog's teeth; there is no need to force a brush on all your dog's teeth at once.
- Make a conscious effort to praise your dog every step of the way.
Consider an Oral Hygiene Solution
If you are not really comfortable with the idea of brushing your dog's teeth, there are oral hygiene solutions that can be added to your dog's water to help to strengthen their teeth and prevent plaque. Ask your veterinarian if your dog can have it added to their water before you go ahead though.
Tooth decay can severely impact your dog's health. Thankfully, there are several ways in which you can secure your dog's dental health if you are proactive about it. For more information, contact local professionals like Brian E Hall.