Don’t you just love going to the dentist?
It’s okay, nobody likes getting their teeth cleaned, especially our furry friends.
Try to remember the last time you went to the dentist. Remember the sound of the drill coming close to your face, the smells, the sharp dental tools lined up perfectly next to your chair. Now imagine that you had no idea where you were or why you were there.
Sounds a bit like a scene from a horror movie, right?
This is how your pup sees the doggy dentist. But as nervous as your pup may be, it’s still critical to keep up with their dental care.
Did you know that by the age of 3 most dogs develop periodontal disease?
Dog teeth care isn’t just about regular visits to the scary doctor. You can minimize those visits by keeping up with day-to-day dental care.
Read on to learn more about why you should keep up with your dog’s canines and also learn some tips for daily care.
4 Reasons Why Doggy Dental Care Is Necessary
The long and the short of it is simple: you should brush your doggo’s teeth for the same reasons that you should brush your own. But, to emphasize the importance of dental health, we’ll go over a few top-of-the-list reasons.
Poor Dental Health Can Mean Poor Overall Health
Let’s start with the most important one. Many dog owners don’t realize just how much dental health can impact overall health.
See, the heart is an extremely powerful organ. It pumps blood from the nose to the toes at a pretty impressive rate. As you probably guessed, the mouth and gums are a part of that system.
If your doggo has infiltrating bacteria or an infection in their gums, it can be a very dangerous game. If the infection reaches the blood, the heart will continue to pump it quickly throughout the body, eventually bringing the bacteria back to the heart and other organs.
In fact, many cases of heart and kidney disease begin with improper dental care.
Bad Breath
We love puppy kisses, but we hate bad breath. And let’s face it, most dogs don’t have minty fresh breath.
Brushing your dog’s teeth is a simple and effective way to treat bad breath. Imagine if you went your entire life without brushing your teeth. You’d have some pretty gnarly breath too.
Teeth Are Teeth
While doggie teeth are much sharper than human teeth, they’re still teeth, and they need similar care.
Ever notice a brown layer on your dog’s teeth? That’s from not brushing. It would happen to your teeth too if you didn’t brush.
Not brushing can result in rotting teeth and decaying gums. This is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow.
Vet Bills Are Expensive
Of course, our doggo’s health is the primary concern, but vet bills are certainly another. As much as we would all love to take them to the vet for every scratch and bruise, not all of us have the luxury of affordability.
That being said, dental costs can be extremely high if preventative measures aren’t regularly performed.
Dog Teeth Care Tips
Now that you’re familiar with why you should care for your dog’s teeth, lets take a look at some tips on how to care for them. There are many ways to care for your dog’s dental health, but these two should be top priority.
Create a Routine
Most of us wake up in the mornings and brush our teeth, and then again at night before bed. We do this because a routine is the best way to remember to get something done.
Try giving your pup the same routine. Get them used to a quick brush before breakfast. Even if you can’t do it twice a day, a least once is better than nothing.
To start off, try a bacon or other yummy flavored doggie toothpaste, and squirt it on your finger. Use your finger to “brush” their teeth. Once your dog has gotten used to the routine, you can try upgrading to a finger brush.
Give Healthy Treats
Brushing their teeth isn’t the only way to prevent dental disease. There are many treats and chews available that help with cleaning the plaque. Look for treats with extra vitamins and supplements for healthy teeth.
If you’ve got a picky pup, you might find something yummy in your fridge. Crunchy veggies like celery, carrots, or broccoli stems can be great treats. Try adding a tidbit of peanut butter to the veggies to encourage the healthy snacking.
Bonus Tips: Help Your Pup Live It’s Best Life
Surprise!
We know you love your pup so we’ve got some extra care tips.
Keep Them Warm
It’s easy to feel like your doggo is warm and cozy under that fur coat, but that’s not always the case. They get cold just like we do.
Keep sweaters and extra blankets around. Booties are great for snow because they protect your pet’s paws from ice and rock salt. Also, keep an eye out for shivers and runny noses.
Check out more winter tips to keep your puppers warm and cozy.
Brush More Than Just teeth
Every morning we brush our hair while getting ready for school or work. You should do the same for your pup. Not only does it prevent tangles and mats, but it honestly just feels good.
Regular shampoos and brushing sessions are important to your dog’s overall skin health.
It’s a Puppy Paradise
Doggy dental trips will probably always be a scary experience for our pups. Until someone comes up with a better way to communicate with our furry friends, we’re stuck petting them and whispering “it’s okay”.
Until that day, the best we can do is minimize the need for cleanings. Start your pup off as early as you can and keep up with daily care.
The best dog teeth care is prevention.
Now that we’ve got the fur babies taken care of, it’s time to take a look at dental care for the human babies.