Top Three Reasons Why You Should Take Your Dog’s Dental Health Seriously

A close up of a white dog's mouth

Canine dental health is important and should not be neglected. However, until this day, there is only a small percentage of dog owners who regularly visit their vets for canine dental check-ups. There is even a much lesser number of owners who regularly brush their dog’s teeth. But vets and experts can’t stress enough just how important it is for a dog to have healthy gums and teeth, and here are some of the main reasons why:

To prevent bad breath

This is stating the obvious. But on a more serious note, if a dog consistently has bad breath, he may have underlying health conditions that could be serious in nature. And there’s a high chance for these underlying health conditions to have stemmed from the failure of the owner to maintain the dog’s oral hygiene.

Periodontal disease, for instance, is notorious for causing bad breath among dogs. While this disease may not be much of a problem in its initial stages, it may cause the infection to spread out to the dog’s bloodstream. It could even reach the point of infecting the organs, which could be life-threatening. So, to prevent the onset of oral-related diseases, start by maintaining your dog’s dental hygiene.

To prevent tooth and gum decay

Tooth and gum decay could lead to something serious if left untreated. If a dog’s gums and the teeth already have abscesses, he is at high risk of developing an infection, not just in the mouth, but also in his critical organs. In extreme cases, bacteria could pass through the crevices of the damaged teeth and through the deteriorated gums, and may go deep into the bloodstream – affecting multiple organs.

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Taking Care Of Your Dogs’ Dental Health

A close up of a white dog with its tongue out

Dental health is part of a dog’s overall health. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to include dental health among the essential services you should give your dog. Veterinarians could give you good advice on what are the best dental practices for pets.

Dogs aren’t as prone to dental cavities as humans. But despite this, it’s still a dog owner’s responsibility that the pet won’t develop dental plaques, tartar or gingivitis. Sometimes, a dog will have bad breath or its teeth will turn yellow. If these dental problems are left untreated, these may lead to severe infections that could affect the liver, kidney or the heart. So, better be safe than sorry.

Here are some pointers on how to take care of your pet’s dental health.

Brush the dog’s teeth

There’s canine toothbrush available in dog supply stores. The best type is a double-headed brush with the bristles at a 45-degree angle. This brush can go and clean even below the gumlines.

At first, your pet might not enjoy brushing his teeth. It may take some time convincing him that the experience isn’t very bad at all. You’ll need just a little more effort and patience. It’s good to choose the right time to brush especially after a tiring day. If the dog is a little exhausted, he’ll stay still while you’re cleaning his teeth.

As the dog gets used to the procedure, you can increase the frequency. And to make the experience more pleasant, you can give a reward to your pet after brushing. In time, he’ll look forward to the activity.

Start early

Developing a good habit is always good when started at a young age. So while your pet is still a puppy, try to make tooth brushing a happy, comfortable and easy experience.

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