Doggy Breath And Dental Disease Prevention And Cure
One of the most common complaints of dog owners is that their pet has bad breath. Although this is unpleasant for the people in your dogs life it can be a very serious health concern for your dog. The bad breath you smell is caused by bacteria buildup in the mouth. As plaque on the teeth hardens into tartar the gums become inflamed and swollen. The gums start to recede from the teeth creating pockets for the bacteria to grow in. In addition, the tartar makes the tooth surfaces rough which also creates places for bacteria to grow. This condition is called gingivitis and bad breath will be the least of your concerns if the disease continues to progress. Untreated your dog will experience tooth, and eventually jaw pain. They will begin to have difficulty eating and may begin to suffer health concerns related to weight loss and poor nutrition. Their teeth will fall out and the open sores inside their mouth will allow the bacteria in their mouth to enter their blood stream. This can lead to serious illness or even death.
Regular dental hygiene makes all of this completely preventable. Not only will regular teeth brushing remove the plaque before it turns to tartar but done frequently your dog will come to accept the routine and the brushing will be less of a fight. If you start the brushing when your dog is a puppy they will also be more willing to accept it. Toothpaste especially formulated for dogs are flavored to make brushing seem like a treat and are safe for the dog to swallow, unlike regular toothpaste that must be spit out so should never be used for dogs. Be sure to use a toothbrush that is an appropriate size for your dogs mouth, too big can make them gag, too small and it will be difficult to brush the entire tooth surface. Daily brushing is best but in reality most pet owners are not able to make this happen. Plaque will turn to tartar in 3 days so a minimum requirement is to brush every three days. On the days that you do not brush use a dental spray, a couple of quick sprays into the mouth dissolves the plaque and kills bacteria. The sprays have the advantage of being quick and easy but their disadvantage is that they do not provide any scraping action on the tooth so rough areas and the gum line are not treated as effectively as with a toothbrush. In addition to brushing and dental spray you should offer chew toys and treats or food that will help to clean the teeth.
For teeth that are already very dirty and inflamed you should visit your vet to have the dog's teeth cleaned and any teeth removed that can not be saved. You may also want to speak with your vet about food that is specially formulated for dogs with dental disease. Another option is to add the annual dental vaccination to your dogs regular vaccination schedule. This vaccine kills the bacteria that are responsible for gingivitis and although it will not stop the plaque and tartar buildup it will help with their breath and reduce the possibility of dental infections.
Regular dental care will not only prevent serious health concerns for your pet but will also make them more pleasant to be around and make the dog kisses less pungent.
About the Author:
Visit PHT Pet Supply at www.phtpetsupply.com for all of the pet supplies you need to keep your pet healthy, happy and stylish including a full line of dog oral care supplies.
