Good Dental Health in Your Dog is Essential

It may come as a surprise to you, but good dental health for your dog is just as important as it is for you. Without proper oral hygiene and dental care, your dog can develop cavities, tartar, plaque and gingivitis. Your dog抯 teeth should be brushed and flossed on a regular basis because dogs usually aren抰 picky eaters and can have eaten anything. Germs and bacteria can grow in your dog抯 mouth.

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?Your dog抯 teeth need to be brushed regularly and correctly. A normal toothbrush and toothpaste can抰 be used, though. Get the right gel or toothpaste from your veterinarian. The type of toothbrush you use can be chosen from a variety of dog toothbrushes that you can put on your finger. You can actually use a human toothbrush if you need to, but human toothpaste can make your dog sick. Also, your dog may not let you brush its teeth with human toothpaste because a dog抯 toothpaste tastes like meat.

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It抯 not difficult to brush your dog抯 teeth once you get the hang of it. Simply coat the toothbrush bristles with the toothpaste. Distribute the toothpaste evenly on your dog抯 teeth. Using a back and forth motion, start brushing. Check for any leftover food that may get stuck between the teeth and make sure all the dog抯 teeth are clean.

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Puppies can be trained to have their teeth brushed daily. Make little treats and rewards so your puppy feels safe in letting you put this strange object in its mouth. It should only take a few attempts before the puppy gets used to the routine. Adult dogs can be harder to train, so you may need to consult your veterinarian.

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If you can convince your dog that brushing its teeth is fun, you抣l be able to do it easier. Use such things as rubber toys to keep your dog抯 teeth clean and healthy between brushings. Choose hard rubber toys and not soft ones. The hard rubber toys work to clean your dog抯 teeth, and are sturdier, letting your dog enjoy them for a long time.

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With so many options to take care of your dog抯 teeth, there抯 no excuse to not provide the best oral care you can.

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