You don’t go to the dentist every six months because you enjoy lying with your head below your feet, your mouth open wide, while someone probes around in your mouth with sharp objects. You do it to avoid an even worse fate – someone drilling on your teeth while half of your face is numb. It’s the old “ounce of prevention” thing. You endure a little bit of discomfort while the hygienist scrapes the plaque off your teeth to prevent the larger problem of tooth decay and gum disease caused by improper care. You should exercise the same “ounce of prevention” for your dog’s oral health.
Dogs are not as likely to get cavities as humans, but like humans, they suffer from tartar buildup on their teeth. Ignoring this buildup can lead to gum infections, abscesses, tooth loss, and even other broader health issues if bacteria in the mouth become so bad they infect other parts of your dog’s body. Sadly, even the most loving, caring dog owner often neglects the oral health of his or her dog simply because the inside of the dog’s mouth is out of sight – and out of mind – unlike a coat that needs bathing and grooming or a wound that needs medical attention. And let’s face it, it’s not pleasant poking around in a dog’s mouth. No one likes slobber all over their hands or getting a dose of dog breath, and the dog isn’t crazy about it either.
Besides regularly peeling back your dog’s lips and looking closely at his teeth, what can you do to prevent tartar buildup?
Probably the easiest (and least expensive) tartar preventative is to give your dog rawhide chews. Dogs love to chew and this is a great way to slow tartar buildup. The rawhide rubs across the teeth as the dog chews, “scrubbing” the teeth.
If you feed your dog a high quality hard kibble food rather than wet food, tartar buildup will be slower. The kibbles are harder to chew and tend to scrub the teeth. This only slows tartar build up. It doesn’t prevent it. Some small amount of the saliva dogs secrete while eating will mix with some small crumbs and stick to the teeth, leading to tartar over time.
Avoid feeding your dog your table scraps. Your food may be really tasty to you – and your dog – but it can quickly cause significant tartar accumulation. If you must treat your dog while you are eating because you can’t resist those begging eyes, feed him raw carrots or celery. Most dogs love them, they cause minimal plaque, and they don’t add calories to his diet, a win-win-win for you and your dog.
You can brush your dog’s teeth, using special dog tooth brushes and toothpaste designed specifically for dogs. Don’t use human toothpaste! If you didn’t start brushing while your dog was still a pup, starting when he’s an adult might be a bit of a struggle. He won’t be too happy with you sticking something in his mouth and rubbing it on his teeth. Depending on how you handle it, you could end up frustrated and covered in drool and have an upset dog. Dogs are adaptable, however, and if you quietly persevere, he will learn to accept, if not welcome, a teeth brushing.
A better solution is an oral gel or spray specifically designed for dog tartar control. Simply spray your dog’s teeth as directed by the product. Over a period of a few weeks, the tartar will be removed. After the initial application period, it’s just a matter of spraying regularly as a preventative.
Whatever method you use, tartar prevention should be taken very seriously. Ignoring it can lead to significant health and quality of life issues and could even shorten your beloved pet’s life.
To learn more about preventing tartar on dogs teeth, visit http://dogtartarremoval.com
For a comprehensive review on a dog plaque spray, visit http://dogtartarremoval.com
Plaque Attack is an excellent dog dental spray for plaque removal.