Posts Tagged ‘Dog Dental Care’

The healthier your pooch is, the happier he’ll be. Fortunately, by investing a little time and attention each day, you can help him maintain his health and ensure his happiness. Sadly, millions of owners fail in providing the care their pooches desperately need. Some owners are even unaware of these needs.

Below, we’ll provide a brief checklist of the things you should do to make sure your dog stays as healthy as possible. You’ll discover the importance of routine veterinary care, exercise, a proper diet, and dental care. Not only can you lessen the likelihood of his experiencing health problems down the road, but you’ll also strengthen the friendship you share together.

Regular Veterinary Checkups And Examinations

This is arguably the most important step you can take toward maintaining your pooch’s health. His veterinarian is the only person who is trained to provide checkups and routine examinations with an eye for potential problems. If your dog already suffers from a health problem, the vet can suggest the best plan of action to resolve the condition and minimize his discomfort. Even if your canine seems perfectly healthy, routine visits to the veterinarian can reveal hidden issues before they become serious.

Daily Exercise

Just like people, canines need exercise to remain healthy. Every breed (and indeed, every pooch) is different. Some will crave more exercise than others. Sadly, a lot of owners are either unaware their dogs need daily exercise or knowingly ignore it due to the inconvenience of accommodating them.

Plan to take your pooch for a walk at least once a day. If possible, take him on two or three walks. If you’re unsure how much exercise is “too much,” let him decide. When given the chance, most dogs will exercise as much as you let them.

High-Quality Commercial Chow

Diet and nutrition are critical ingredients to keeping your canine healthy. You’ll see the effects in the luster of his coat. His weight will stay within a small range. The amount of energy he has will be consistent for his breed (poor nutrition leads to lethargy). His overall temperament will be positive. All of these characteristics are natural for healthy dogs.

Invest in high-quality commercial dog food that contains the vitamins and nutrients he needs at his age. Also, consider asking the veterinarian to suggest appropriate meal sizes, given your pooch’s normal energy level. Aside from the occasional treat, avoid the temptation to feed your canine table food. They are a frequent catalyst for obesity.

Regular Care For His Teeth And Gums

Particles of food can become lodged between your dog’s teeth and gums. If these particles are not removed, they will eventually set the stage for plaque. When plaque forms on your pooch’s teeth, his saliva will gradually turn it into tartar. This causes gingivitis. If it is not resolved, it evolves into periodontal disease. In severe cases, the bacteria that grows at the site can gain entry into your canine’s bloodstream and spread throughout his body, causing other problems.

All of the above can be prevented by providing routine dental care. Brush your pooch’s teeth each day to help remove food particles from his teeth and gums. Also, give him hard dog treats that will help dislodge particles and debris. Lastly, make regular dental appointments with the veterinarian for a thorough cleaning.

Recognizing Issues Before They Worsen

When a person feels ill, they can communicate with words. Because your canine lacks that ability, it is important to learn how to recognize signs that hint there may be a problem. That might include trouble breathing, persistent vomiting or diarrhea, weakness, or a dozen other traits. Medical issues can worsen quickly in dogs, which means you need to recognize the clues as soon as possible.

Your dog’s long-term well-being is largely up to you. Use the list above to provide the care he needs to stay healthy and happy.

Even when fed poor diets, dogs are generally free from dental cavities. One study revealed that only 5.8 percent of teeth examined in dogs contained cavities. And many of the teeth that were found to have cavities were so loose and had such extremely receded gums that those teeth were for the most part useless to the dog anyway.

Dogs don’t develop the same type of painful cavities that humans do. Dog cavities are not a result of decay, but are caused by grinding the tips of the teeth away to the point that the enamel wears off and exposes the pulp of the tooth.

It is remarkable how few dogs have dental problems as the direct result of malnutrition during their development growth stages. Abandoned dogs, and the offspring of abandoned dogs that have never had the benefit of human care, that appear to be emaciated or malnourished will generally be found to have teeth that are as good or better than pets that have been spoiled.

The reason for this is that dogs that are allowed to run wild can just about always find enough bones to provide the calcium and phosphorus necessary for good tooth development. Their diets may be deficient in minerals that contribute to other health problems, but if a dog can find bones on a regular basis, he will generally have good teeth.

The dogs with the worst teeth are generally those raised in kennels or homes that feed primary dog biscuits and meat-based diets that are deficient in phosphorous. Dogs that are fed meal-type dog foods, since those feeds generally contain a sufficient amount of dried ground bone, will usually have good teeth. Bone meal is one of the most inexpensive ingredients that can be added to dog food that will contribute to the dog’s good dental health.

The quality of a dog’s teeth has little to do with the consistency of the food he eats, so canned or dry food in and of itself makes little difference. It is the mineral content of the food that makes the difference. The only advantage of dry food over canned is that a food that has an abrasive surface will help clean the teeth. Dogs that are fed exclusively canned or soft food will generally have heavy tartar deposits.

Giving your dog a big flat beef rib bone, and ensuring the chews it in a place where it can’t be contaminated by worm eggs, is one of the best dental care measures you can take. Chewing through the bone will keep his teeth clean and white, and ingesting the bone will provide the minerals necessary to keep his teeth healthy.