Health - Teeth

The first stage of poor oral hygiene in dogs is accumulation of plaque, called gingivitis , near the gums. You might note signs of gingivitis by examining your dog's mouth. You will see a red line along the teeth instead of the bright pink color that signifies a healthy mouth.

Gingivitis is actually a bacterial infection. When left untreated, the bacteria begin to move under the gum line, where they infect the teeth at their roots. This is periodontal disease, and it has numerous symptoms. These include bad breath, excessive drooling, yellow or brown tartar deposits on the teeth, angry red gums, and loose or missing teeth.

Periodontal disease is not curable, but it can be treated. Treatment may generally involve extractions of teeth that have become severely infected, regular cleaning appointments, or antibiotics as needed to help reduce infection. Untreated, infection can enter the blood stream where it can cause damage to the liver, heart, and kidneys and brain.

Poor oral hygiene in pets can be forestalled with a few steps. Dry food is always best for dogs. Wet food and people food actually helps plaque develop more quickly. Dry food, conversely, should keep a dog's teeth from developing significant plaque.

Further, one can address poor oral hygiene in dogs by making tooth brushing part of their lives. Ideally, tooth brushing habits should start early, using a bit of gauze to wipe the teeth, so the dog gets used to you exploring its mouth.

Once the dog has this down, buy a pet size toothbrush, and Oxyfresh Pet Gel. Do not use people toothpaste as this can make your pet sick. Brushing must be performed at least every third day in order to be effective.

If your dog really refuses brushing, there are now some products, which can be added to your dog's water. These help reduce plaque build-up. These usually have no odour and color, and may be a good way to go for the pet that fights through brushing attempts. Dog biscuits can also be a great way to combat poor oral hygiene in dogs because they also help the teeth shed plaque build up.

If you notice signs of poor oral hygiene in your dog, be certain to contact Something to Bark About as soon as possible. It is better to get an early start on combating the issue, rather than allowing your dog's health to deteriorate.

At Something to Bark About, the Canine Teeth Cleaning is performed by Kelly Moran who is a Certified Canine Oral Hygiene Specialist and has 6 years experience performing non-anaesthetic canine teeth cleaning and 12 years experience working with animals.