Category: Dental Hygeine

There are several symptoms of dental disease in dogs that make it fairly easy to recognize. Check this list, and see if you have noticed any of them in your dog.

• Drooling. Dogs with bad teeth and sore gums often dribble. If the disease is bad enough, the saliva may be blood tinged.
• Bad breath. If your dog’s breath knocks you over when he comes up to give you a kiss on the cheek, it’s time to have a closer look in his mouth.
• Difficulty eating. If your dog has sore teeth and gums, it will be painful to chew his kibble. Because there’s nothing wrong with his appetite, he will be keen to eat but will back off when it hurts.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, take your dog along to your veterinarian to have his teeth and mouth examined.

There are 12 separate steps to having your dog’s teeth checked and cleaned by your veterinarian. Let’s look at them one by one.

1.    Your dog will have a general health check, and pre-anesthetic blood tests if necessary.

2.    His teeth will be examined closely under general anesthesia.

3.    Any obvious hard chunks of tartar will be removed.

4.    The tooth roots below the gum line will be cleaned and scaled.

5.    All surfaces of the teeth will be polished.  Plaque appears to be less able to stick to a smooth surface.

6.    The gums and gum sockets will be flushed to clean out any leftover debris.

7.    Fluoride is applied to the teeth to help prevent decay.

8.    X-rays are taken to look closely at the tooth roots and areas below the gum line that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

9.    Further treatment such as extractions may be needed depending on the results of the x-ray.

10.  A dental chart will be made which will be a permanent record of how many teeth your dog has, and what treatment has been given so far.

11.  Your veterinarian will give you detailed instructions on how to care for your dog’s teeth at home.

12.  Many veterinarians will invite you back for a follow up visit to check that your home care is going well.

Ideally however you can avoid all of this by  brushing your dog’s teeth daily to prevent the accumulation of plaque, which will lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Any job is easier if you have the right equipment. To properly care for your dog’s teeth at home, you will need a KissAble toothbrush and  toothpaste.  The unique design of this doggie toothbrush allows you to clean all parts of your dog’s tooth at once, which means it gets done quicker, and he doesn’t have to sit still as long.  The KissAble toothpaste is pleasant for your dog because it doesn’t lather and it tastes great. If you are looking for a quick fix, invest in some canine breath freshener. This is a fast and easy way to get rid of a very smelly problem!

Good dental care is an important part of your dog’s preventative health care program.  Don’t wait until your dog has dental disease before taking action. Start brushing your dog’s teeth at home today. A few dollars for some canine dental products will save you a lot of money over the long run.

 

 by Audrey Harvey, DVN

 

Most people have heard of gingivitis, but may not be quite sure what it is. “Gingiva” is the scientific name for the gums, and gingivitis just means inflammation of the gums. This condition may occur in your dog if his teeth and gums are not properly cared for. It is painful, and can make dinnertime very unpleasant for him.

 

What Causes Gingivitis in Dogs?

 

Your dog’s teeth are constantly bathed in saliva. They become covered in plaque, which is a mixture of saliva and bacteria. Over time, this plaque hardens into the familiar yellow/brown tartar, and prevents oxygen getting to his outer gums. When this happens, the only bacteria that can survive in that environment are those that don’t need oxygen. Unfortunately, these bacteria are the most harmful to the gums and periodontal tissues. 

 

There’s only one way to check if your dog has gingivitis, and that’s to open is mouth and have a look for yourself. Look for reddening and swelling of his gums, particularly along the line where they meet his teeth.

 

Treating Gingivitis in Dogs

 

If gingivitis isn’t treated, it can progress to periodontal disease. Again, a definition for you: “perio” means “around”, and “dontal” relates to teeth, so this is disease of the tissues around the tooth. The main problem with periodontal disease is it can damage the ligament that anchors the tooth in place, and even destroy the bone of the tooth socket. This can result in loss of the tooth.

 

Gingivitis is preventable, but when bone loss occurs, there’s no going back.

 

To treat your dog’s sore gums, have his teeth cleaned professionally by your veterinarian. This will reduce the gum inflammation and stop the progression to periodontal disease. Your dog will need a general anesthetic to allow your vet to clean all areas of his teeth, even below the gum line.

 

Prevention is better than Cure

 

It’s not hard to prevent your dog getting gingivitis; it just takes time and effort on your part.

 

Buy a  toothbrush and toothpaste specially formulated for canines and brush your dog’s teeth every day. This will remove the plaque that has accumulated before it hardens into tartar. We recommend the KissAble toothbrush which is shaped such that it cleans all surfaces of your dog’s teeth at once. This is especially convenient if your dog doesn’t like having his teeth brushed, because you can get the job done quickly.

 

Don’t use human toothpaste for your dog. We spit out our toothpaste but your dog will swallow it, and it may make him feel ill. Also, it usually has a strong minty taste which doesn’t appeal to dogs. Toothpaste formulated for dogs doesn’t froth or lather, it is quite safe to swallow and it tastes nice. All of these features make it the perfect toothpaste for your dog.

 

 85% of dogs over 3 years of age have some degree of dental disease. Don’t let your dog fall into this category. Brush his teeth regularly and he’s less likely to suffer from sore gums. After all, a healthy mouth means a happy dog.

Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets.

 
 
 
 

 

 

 by Audrey Harvey, DVM

 

We’ve all seen pictures and cartoons featuring a tiny dog and a giant bone. Dogs and bones go together like a knife and a fork, or a shoe and a sock. Most dogs love to chew, and a bone can keep them occupied and out of mischief for quite some time.

 

Should You Give Your Dog a Bone?

 

Most of us have grown up believing that dogs need to eat bones to keep their teeth clean.

However, you may be surprised to learn that veterinary dentists now recommend that you don’t give your dog any bones at all. This is because bones can be very harmful to dogs, and can cause severe damage to a dog’s teeth. There have been many cases where chewing on a hard bone has resulted in a fractured tooth, and an expensive dental bill. Small bones can also get stuck between your dog’s teeth, which can be very distressing for your dog.

 

There are other potential health hazards associated with eating bones; choking, intestinal obstruction and constipation can all occur if you include bones in your dog’s diet.

 

As you can see, your dog’s teeth are better off without bones, as is his gastro-intestinal tract!

 

 

How Do You Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Clean?

 

Most dogs have some degree of periodontal disease before they are 3 years old. If your dog can’t have bones, how do you keep his teeth clean?

 

That’s easy – brush his teeth! Veterinary dentists advise that you should brush your dog’s teeth daily, just as you do your own. Brushing will remove any food scraps and plaque before it hardens into tartar.

 

It may take a while until he gets used to his new dental routine. If your dog is nervous and unsure when you approach his mouth, you will need to take the time to allow him to get used to it. Don’t rush this, because it can make your dog even more reluctant to let you look at his teeth.

 

To get the most results from your tooth brushing efforts, follow these guidelines.

 

Firstly, use the right toothbrush. The KissAble toothbrush has a unique design which allows you to clean all surfaces of your dog’s tooth at once. Firm bristles thoroughly clean his teeth while softer brushes massage his gums.

 

Secondly, choose appropriate toothpaste. Human toothpaste is not suitable for dogs at all. While we enjoy a fresh minty taste, many dogs don’t, and they also don’t like the soapy lather that a human toothpaste produces. The KissAble Toothpaste is a better choice; it contains tea tree oil which fights plaque, dogs love the vanilla flavor, and it is soap-free. Feel free to try it on your own teeth; you may prefer it to the toothpaste you are already using.

 

While your dog would love a big meaty bone for supper, it’s just not worth the risk. Give him a chew toy to keep him busy, and brush his teeth with KissAble toothbrush and toothpaste. He’ll have clean teeth, fresh breath and you won’t mind at all when he gives you a kiss on the cheek.

 

Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets