Friday, March 23, 2012

Your Dog's Teeth Are Important

By Jennifer Bowers


Over time, your dog has become a part of your family. He provides companionship and devotion to you without asking for much in return. It is only normal that you want your dog to be in your life as long as possible, so it is important that you take care of his health.

The one thing most people forget about in taking care of their dogs is that their teeth also need to be taken care of. Wild dogs take care of their teeth by chewing on raw bone; the bone scrapes the plaque and helps remove bits of meat stuck in between the teeth.

You need to remember that your dog isn't like a wild animal - he needs your help from the bacteria that causes bad breath and other problems. Your dog generally eats soft canned food or small chunks of the hard food, so these aren't going to provide him much for natural teeth care like the raw bones that wild dogs chew on.

If your dog is a member of your family to you, then it is your duty to help him keep his teeth clean. The first thing you need to do is to let them chew on raw bones regularly - at least a couple of times a week.

You don't necessarily need to buy a bone from the grocery store - a rawhide bone from the pet store is great. They'll instinctively chew on the bone and the plaque can easily be scraped off and any soft meat that may be stuck between their teeth will get loosened up before any problems can occur.

If the bone isn't working, or if they just aren't interested in chewing on bones, then you should take his mouth care into your own hands and brush them with toothpaste. Just use a toothbrush and toothpaste that are not your own.

Pet stores sell toothpaste and toothbrushes specifically made for dogs. If you can't brush them every day, try to do it at least 3-4 times a week.

Scrub the teeth well and massage the gums also to provide for good circulation within his gums. Get rid of any food that gets stuck in his teeth. You should also opt for dry food instead than soft food to keep your dog's teeth cleaner.

Even if that's not the only type of cleaning his teeth will need, hard food will certainly help. Dog biscuits are also hard and can help remove the plaque.

The vet should check your dog's teeth at every visit. They can spot anything that you may have missed and they can offer advice on how to clean the teeth better or what foods you could give to your dog to naturally help clean the teeth and keep bacteria at bay.

Routine care of your dog's teeth prevents bigger problems later on. Keep your dog around for your family for as long as you possibly can by keeping him healthy and keeping his teeth healthy, too.




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