February is Pet Dental Health Month. If you’re a pet parent, you know that caring for your canine companion from head to toe is essential for maintaining their overall health and longevity. Unfortunately, many individuals are unaware of just how important proper dental health care is for our pups. Here’s what you need to know about cleaning your dog’s teeth and your options for doing so.
Why Should You Clean Your Dog’s Teeth?
As much as pet parents are glad to learn how to clean their pup’s teeth to get rid of stinky dog breath, there are actually quite a few additional reasons why it’s important to stay on top of your dog’s dental hygiene.
Dental disease is a common occurrence in our canine companions, and it can lead to a variety of health issues if left untreated. When tartar builds up in a dog’s gumline, it can result in painful inflammation and even lead to infection. This can cause significant discomfort for your dog as well as put them at risk of the condition worsening.
When a dog’s dental health deteriorates, this can lead to pain, some notably bad breath, and tooth loss. Even worse, the bacteria in your dog’s mouth may enter his or her bloodstream and make its way to the liver, kidneys, and heart. This can rapidly become dangerous and harm your fur baby’s organs.
Some of the ways you may be able to detect poor dental health in your pup are if they experience any of the following issues or behaviors:
- Bad breath
- Broken teeth
- Drooling
- Inability or refusal to drink and eat
- Loose teeth
- Oral bleeding
- Oral pain
If your canine pal is displaying any of the above concerns, it may be time to swing by your vet and get a checkup on your dog’s oral health. To help prevent these dental hardships, here are the ways you can clean your dog’s teeth at home and try to avoid some of these problems before they ever start.
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
One of the most obvious ways to keep your pup’s teeth clean is by brushing them. This should be done at least weekly to help prevent the buildup of plaque, the gunk on your dog’s teeth that will turn into tartar. Pet parents should invest in a toothbrush that is specifically made for dogs, and there are also dog-appropriate types of toothpaste available that come in a wide range of flavors to suit your pup’s preferences. (As a note, you should never use human-only types of toothpaste when brushing your dog’s teeth as the ingredients in these are not safe for canine consumption.)
The sooner you can help your dog adjust to having its teeth brushed, the better. Some pups may be hesitant to allow something as unusual as a toothbrush in their mouth at first, but finding a tasty toothpaste for them often inspires many to go along with the cleaning process.
The brushing itself should be done carefully and gently, but if you run into any problems (whether it’s your pup not being comfortable with the process or them having too much bleeding when brushing), be sure to consult with your canine pal’s veterinarian for advice or assistance in getting the job done.
Give Your Dog Dental Treats and Chew Toys
Another great option for cleaning your pet’s teeth is giving them treats specifically designed for oral health. These are designed in a way to help clean your pup’s teeth as they chew, reducing plaque and the risks associated with its buildup. Luckily for pet parents interested in such an option, the Veterinary Oral Health Council has provided a great list of approved dental treats that are guaranteed to be both safe and effective as long as you provide your pup with the correct size and number of treats to avoid both choking and weight gain, respectively.
Special chew toys are also available that are great for reducing plaque buildup, but these toys are limited in that they may clean the teeth themselves but cannot clean away any buildup from your pup’s gumline. Although they serve as a wonderful preventative measure, along with providing your dogs with some likely desired chew time to de-stress and enjoy themselves, it’s still important to regularly clean your dog’s teeth and mouth to avoid what dental chew toys leave behind.
Water Additives and Other Alternatives
For those who want a less hands-on approach to staying on top of their dog’s dental health, some pet parents choose to use products such as water additives. These are simply specialized liquids that can be added to your dog’s water bowl each day that help reduce the amount of tartar and plaque buildup in your pup’s mouth.
Another way to soften up any plaque or tartar (but will still require some brushing or other methods of rubbing away the gunk) is using dog-safe oral sprays. These are pet-safe sprays that you can simply mist in your dog’s mouth and on their teeth to help prevent unsavory buildup from getting stuck on tightly and becoming difficult to remove and clean away later.
Lastly, there are also doggy dental wipes available for those with pups who may be more comfortable with their pet parent wiping away plaque and tartar with a wipe and their fingers compared to using a brush that may be too startling or uncomfortable. These wipes may have less scrubbing ability than a doggy toothbrush, but they’re a great alternative for dogs that are a bit hesitant about teeth cleaning but still need the job done.
Dental Cleaning at the Vet
Although caring for your pet’s dental health at home is essential and can go a long way in ensuring they stay as healthy as possible, some pet parents may need to bring their pups to the vet for a more thorough dental checkup. Your dog’s veterinarian will be able to determine if some more serious cleaning work is needed, and if so, you’ll be able to schedule a cleaning that also involves your pup undergoing some general anesthesia to ensure their safety and comfort.
During the cleaning procedure, your dog’s vet will be able to thoroughly check your pup’s mouth and teeth and note any significant health concerns while also cleaning up any buildup under the gums or elsewhere in the mouth as needed. If certain dental issues have become too severe to correct, your dog’s vet will likely extract the affected teeth while your dog is under anesthesia or may schedule an additional procedure, later on, to do so.
Conclusion
Dental care is just one of the many ways we need to take care of our canine companions, and it’s important not to let this aspect of your pet’s health get forgotten. For all of your pet’s other health needs, such as getting out of the house and going on regular walks when you may be away at work or at an appointment of your own, we here at Metro Mutts DC would be glad to help!
Enhance your pup’s mental and physical well-being by having us provide AM or PM walks for dogs of all ages on whatever schedule best first your needs. If you live in our service area, feel free to reach out and get scheduled with us today.
Happy brushing!
