August is Dental Health Month, a whole month dedicated to educating people on the importance of keeping a good dental care regime. This regime should include brushing twice daily, flossing twice daily, using mouthwash regularly and visiting your dentist for regular checkups. Additionally, a professional clean every six months is integral in maintaining healthy teeth and gums and ensuring you don’t confront any serious dental concerns later down the track.
Just like us, our pets can suffer dental concerns, however, there is not enough emphasis placed on the importance of maintaining a consistent dental care regime for our furry companions. Periodontal disease (poor dental health) is one of the most common health issues in our pets with nearly 80% of domestic dogs suffering some form of it. This is why ‘Doggy Dental Hygiene Month’ is so important. Good dental health for both you and your dog is integral in living a comfortable and happy life.
Plaque is the culprit when it comes to poor dental health. Plaque is a clear, bacteria filled, layer which accumulates on tooth surfaces. Plaque builds up within hours of the last brush and in as little as two days can contribute to the development of visible tartar. Additionally, the bacteria in plaque can cause inflamed gums or gingivitis, which is a problem for both humans and dogs alike.
Any subtle or drastic changes in your dogs eating habits can be a symptom of periodontal disease, it is important to act upon any of these changes as dogs will instinctively attempt to hide any signs of pain or weakness. White or slightly off-white teeth and pink gums is healthy for both people and pets, however some breeds of dogs can have pigmented gums! So if your dog has builds up of plaque or signs of periodontal disease they may have bad breath, tooth loss, abnormal drooling, bleeding gums, dropping food, going to the food bowl but not eating, swallowing food whole or simply any change in eating habits.
The main contributors to periodontal disease in dogs are poor oral hygiene, old age and sometimes the causes can be breed specific, for instance, a small breed dog is more likely to develop a cramped mouth due to the mouth being too small for the teeth. Although brushing your dogs teeth twice a day is difficult to maintain, we still need to adopt a good dental health routine for our dogs consisting of regular brushing, recommended once a day, in order to remove plaque before it mineralises to tartar.
Dogs normally won’t take a liking to brushing their teeth immediately, it’s a good idea to introduce brushing slowly. The best way to get doggy used to it is to begin with your finger, as the brush, and some beef bouillon, as the paste, when your dog is comfortable with this activity move up to a soft bristled Pet Tooth Brush with a small amount of pet tooth paste. Remember to reinforce good behaviour with treats and praise and make the whole experience pleasant and not stressful. It could take several days or a few weeks for brushing to become comfortable for your dog but by keeping brushing sessions short, positive and enjoyable, your dog should have the whitest teeth in the dog park in no time!
Regular dental check-ups for yourself or your dog are a great way to keep on top of any potential dental issues. When booking a check up be sure to let your vet know you would like your dog’s teeth checked and professionally cleaned, this will ensure that your doggy can maintain a healthy mouth. These check-ups should be conducted every 6 months or every vet visit.
Treats and toys that are hard and large are good to chew; they not only keep your pet entertained but also clean out any excess food that may have built up. There is also a range of chew toys which promote nicer breath and it may just be a matter of testing a range of toys with your dog before finding that perfect match. A good idea for teething puppies is to freeze these chew toys first, this can soothe a puppy in pain.
Nutritional management involves adopting a regular diet that maintains those professional cleans and regular brushes. The kibble in some dog food products (Hill’s Dental range) are specifically designed to ‘scrub’ your dogs teeth while eating thereby reducing plaque and tartar build up. For Dental Hygiene Month, Hill’s Science Diet is offering anyone who buys from the Oral Care Range the opportunity to win a Hyundai Getz!
So, in the future when you’re brushing your own teeth, be sure to keep in mind just how important it is to keep your pets mouth clean. Brush their teeth too, maintain regular check-ups and next time your shopping for doggies dinner be sure to look for a dental range, after all, even dog’s like to smile.
This blog post is supplied courtesy of Paddington Pups Doggy Daycare Centre, www.PaddingtonPups.com.au.
