Dogs Need Dental Care Like People
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Sam Basso
PHOENIX , AZ AREA: (602) 708-4531
OR, if you are out of this area, inquire about a telephone or e-Lesson
Email: [email protected]
Almost all dogs over 2 years of age have periodontal disease (bacteria in the mouth which is destroying gums, ligaments, bone and teeth, plus increasing the risk of other health problems). The deep pockets that form open the door for this bacteria to make it into the bloodstream, possibly infecting the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver or heart. Take a look. Your dog’s teeth should be clean and healthy looking every day.
What are the symptoms of bacteria doing bad thing in your dog’s mouth?
* Bad breath
* Tooth loss
* Red or swollen gums
* Yellow, brown or black crust around the gum line
* Loose or missing teeth
* Tenderness or tenderness in the mouth
* Changes in appetite
* Aggression
Why do humans wash their clothes, use the dishwasher, or put Purell on their hands? To disinfect them. Why do people rinse their mouths out, floss, brush, get teeth cleaned at the dentists office, etc? To disinfect their mouths. We know this is necessary to prevent loss of our teeth. The same principles apply to taking care of your dog’s teeth.
Get your dog vaccinated! There is a NEW VACCINE to fight gum disease in dogs (and cats). The Porphyromonas vaccine is a relatively inexpensive way to help combat this terrible condition. Dogs 7 weeks and older can be vaccinated. It’s not a substitute for keeping your dog’s teeth clean, but we should take advantage of modern science. I think this new vaccine is almost a miracle. Do it!
Brush: You should brush your dog’s teeth every day. Ask your vet to show you how to do it. You can start by acclimating your dog to it by using dog toothpaste (tastes good to dogs; human toothpaste is dangerous for dogs – and Xylitol can kill your dog) and rubbing around the gums and teeth with your bare finger. It is extremely important that you get your dog to accept having your fingers in their mouths, so start them as puppies. Then, you can graduate to using some cloth (gauze, wash cloth… I’ve even used my sock at the end of the day) wrapped around your finger (or they have these things that you can slip over your finger that do the same thing). Your vet can provide you with special swabs and solutions you can use to help with the cleaning. And finally, some dogs will accept you using a tooth brush. I know of people who think that they can have the dog’s groomer “clean” their dog’s teeth once every couple of months…. but that is just a waste of time and money. How would your teeth do if someone cleaned them every 2 or 3 months? And you need to disinfect the brush after each use. Extremely important: soak the brush or swab, after use, in a bleach solution for a minute so it is clean before the next use. 2 drops bleach to 1 cup water is sufficient. It is a mistake to keep using a dirty brush on your dog’s teeth! You wouldn’t rub your skin with a dirty, germ filled cloth or brush… why would you brush a dog’s gums with a dirty brush which will infect the teeth all over again??!!
Professional cleaning. Consult your vet, but as a general rule, every 6 to 18 months, your adult dog should have its teeth professionally cleaned. I used to believe you could wait every 2 or 3 years, but I’ve changed my opinion on that. Only a professional cleaning, under general anesthesia, can get under the gum line to remove plaque and tartar. Note that it is called “cleaning”. You can’t get your dog’s mouth sufficiently “clean” without professional assistance. I know of a student who took their dog into the vet for a loose tooth… and the vet had to pull 20 teeth at a cost of nearly $1,000. Toothpaste and brushing is a lot cheaper than vet bills! This is another reason why I recommend getting pet insurance. Pet insurance might just pay for all of this… do your homework!
Feed dry food. Dry food helps to scrape your dogs teeth each time they eat. Moist food tends to stick to the teeth, increasing tooth decay potential. Most dog owners are too concerned with how good a dog food tastes, wanting the dogs to dive into every food bowl. So, they buy food specifically designed to be tasty and easy to eat. The dogs end up fat and with gum disease. A bit of moist on top of the dry is fine. But your dog needs to chew to have healthy teeth. There are even special prescription diets available for dogs which help to scrub the teeth of plaque and tartar while eating. Small dogs are more likely to have gum disease, partly because their teeth are overcrowded in their mouths, and also because their owners tend to baby them more with treats and soft foods. And there are some breeds more likely to have gum disease… ask your vet if you have a problem brewing.
Give dental chew toys. There are a variety of things that are safe for your dog to chew on, including special rawhide toys you can get from your veterinarian. Your dog needs these on a regular basis.
Lastly, watch the behavior of your dog. I have worked with a number of dogs that were biting people because the dogs had sore teeth or had other medical problems. Not always is a biting problem a behavioral problem. Sometimes it is a medical problem. I wonder how many dogs are put to death each year that would have stopped biting if they had been examined for tooth problems.
Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist, in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale metropolitan area. He’s known for being fun, kind, intelligent, and humane. Sam Basso has a unique personal touch. He has appeared on his own TV show, been a guest radio expert, gives seminars, publishes a dog related blog, does rescue volunteering, and is active in promoting animal welfare and fair dog laws.
Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist, in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale metropolitan area. He’s known for being fun, kind, intelligent, and humane. Sam Basso has a unique personal touch. He has appeared on his own TV show, been a guest radio expert, gives seminars, publishes a dog related blog, does rescue volunteering, and is active in promoting animal welfare and fair dog laws.
