As concerned as most pet owners are in regards to the proper grooming of their canine companions, most don’t give enough attention to proper oral care. As a result, plenty of these well-maintained and well-groomed dogs suffer from some form of periodontal disease. And sometimes their owners won’t even know about it until it’s too late and it’s done a lot of damage to their dog’s teeth.
Now, if you want to prevent that from happening to your furry friend, here are a few tips that you may want to keep in mind.
1. Establish a routine.
It’s never too late to start a daily oral care routine for your dog. To learn about this, be sure to visit your local veterinarian.
2. Visit the veterinarian.
Speaking of visits frequent trips to the vet will help you learn more about how to take proper care of your dog’s teeth. Not only that but you should also take your dog to the vet regularly for professional teeth cleaning.
3. Start when they’re young.
Just as it’s never too late to start it’s also never too early to establish a good oral care routine for your dog. Daily brushing, regular veterinary checkups and cleanings as well as a well-balanced diet should always be on top of your priority.
4. Have patience.
It may take quite some time for your dog to feel comfortable about you brushing their teeth regularly but have some patience.
Sooner or later your dog will learn to calm down once you start brushing. Though it’s probably a good idea to point out that starting while they were still a few weeks old makes it more likely that they won’t panic or feel anxious whenever you try to brush their teeth.
5. Plan for a species-appropriate raw diet.
Your pet dog will benefit from chewing on bones in her raw diet as they help scrape away tartar and plaque on their teeth, preventing build-up which may lead to gingivitis.
Note: An all-natural, safe-to-eat and high-quality chew bone can also be used as an alternative to the bones found in raw meat.
6. Use wipes or pads.
Canine dental pads or a simple gauze pad wrapped around your finger can be used to wipe your dog’s teeth and gum line to help remove some of the bacteria and food particles longed in between.
As an added tip, using such pads can help your dog get used to routinely having its teeth cleaned so that it’s not as fussy once you start brushing their teeth.
7. Don’t wait for any signs and symptoms to show.
Periodontal disease has been linked even in dogs to heart, kidney and other chronic illnesses that can prove fatal to your pet.
Never ever wait until your dog shows signs and symptoms as they may also mean that the periodontal disease is in its advanced stages and may already be difficult to cure.
Establishing a proper dental routine including frequent trips to the vet won’t be easy. It’ll require a lot of patience and dedication on your part. But once you’ve started it can easily become a part of your lifestyle and your dog will be thanking you for it.