A Dogs Teeth Need Care!!!

          One thing that often gets overlooked when it comes to a dogs health are his or her teeth. A dogs teeth and gums need care, just like yours or mine do. Some dogs need more care than others. I happen to believe genetics play a large role in whether or not they will have bad teeth. That is no reason to ignore the issue. Dogs will very seldom get cavities, plaque and tartar build up are the main culprits when it comes to dental problems for dogs. Plaque and tartar build up can leave your dog susceptible to gum disease. If you allow plaque and tartar to build up on your dogs teeth it will begin to build up around the gum line causing your dog pain and discomfort. If this has already happened, you will need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet should have the tools and skill it requires to remove all that build up and get your dog some relief. If your vet does not have a dental program, they will be able to point you in the right direction. However, most vets can take care of plaque and tartar build up right in their exam rooms. I can not stress this enough, if you find your dog has red gums, discharge, or tartar build up, you must get them to the vet. If you wait to long there are a litany of problems that can occur, and none of them are good.

          Once all the tartar and plaque has been removed, you can then begin to provide your dog with a home dental routine. This is a simple thing. You will need to brush your dogs teeth once a day. There are all kinds of products to help you with this, there is even beef flavored doggie toothpaste. I know, I know.... ewwwww.... But the dogs love it. Before you brush your dogs teeth it is a good opportunity to check your dogs teeth out and make sure they look healthy. Once you have given the once over to your dogs teeth, you can begin to brush. Be sure to brush along the gum line to remove any plaque build up. That is it, really, a simple brushing to avoid all the horrors that come with gum disease.

          Thank you for reading, and remember, if you take good care of your dogs teeth it will go a long way in ensuring you have a healthy, happy furry family member.
　
Nick C.
Doggiediaries4u@gmail.com