Brushing the dogs teeth! Photo: Karen Barefoot @ sxc
Did you know that as soon as your dog’s teeth are out they start to develop plaque?
You ask "What exactly is plaque?" it is a buildup of food debris, lots of bacteria and saliva, and it sticks to the enamel on the teeth. If it is not cleaned on a regular basis it can mineralize and form hard calculus.
When this happens, it spreads under the gum line and creates a pocket for more bacteria and debris. This will cause very sore gums and inflammation, also known as gingivitis. Eventually, the teeth may even fall out.
You can go to a vet and have this cleaned up, but, preventative is the best method.
Now, I have my own way, which has worked for all my dogs, and it’s NOT medical. My vet has repeatedly told me that my dog’s teeth are the best he sees in his practice.
I give my dogs the "real" bones, once they are old enough to start gnawing at them; I buy them from the pet store, or, a store that carries pet products. NOT the rawhide or pressed bones. And NOT the cookie bones, and not the dental bones. I use the real bones. Like "Smokey Bones".
On the other hand, many vets do recommend that you actually brush your dog’s teeth. Do not use people toothpaste! Do this dental hygiene on a regular basis. There are many dog oral products on the market today.
Check out more on pet dental hygiene
Remember, this is for your information and knowledge, and not a professional recommendation. Always check with your own pet professional.
Pet Urn Provider
Thanks for the great information. People need to look after their pets dental health as they would their own! Mary
jj
I just had a person I know sit and tell everyone about how she couldn’t afford to take care of her dog’s teeth and how it cause her excessive anguish over the whole thing when her dog needed surgery to extract some broken teeth after they got infected plus lots of other issues resulting a direct result of not taking care of the plaque on her dogs teeth. It seems like her explanation was absolute crap. “I feel bad so I get off.” It just so happens that she just moved into this great new house at the same time. This is the same person who abandoned her cats to move in with a boyfriend who was allergic. If she can afford a new house, she can afford to care for her pet. PRIORITIES. She needs to give up one or the other. She can’t afford it. If her dog dead, I would have blamed her for the death and called it neglect and reported her.