Pet Dental Care

Every time I go to the veterinarian with one of my 3 dogs I am inevitably presented with an option to have my dog's teeth cleaned. I am obsessed with taking care of my own teeth, but my reluctance to have one of my dog's teeth cleaned is a result of some of the negative press of dog's undergoing anesthesia, especially the older dogs. It is something I weigh all the time. I am not the kind of person who brushes my dogs' teeth regularly if at all. But I do give them things to chew on, like Greenies and chew toys which I believe help in the long run. Call me lazy! I do see tartar on the teeth of my 11, 10 1/2 and 7 year old dogs. The older, the more tartar. I hope that the Greenies are helping to control that.

In researching this problem in dogs I did run across this information that Vets say 85 percent of canines over age 4 have some form of gum disease. In addition, Other problems include crooked, cracked or loose teeth, an infection or an abscess.

Since our pets cannot always tell us when there is a dental problem it is prudent to check your pet's mouth for any unusual signs that may indicate a dental problem. You might notice a reluctance to eat the usual food, or find your pet rubbing his mouth to get relief, or possibly a missing tooth or an increased gap in the teeth. All of these things are reasons to have your vet check out your pet's dental health.

There are things you can do to determine whether or not your pet is having problems with his teeth.

One quick and easy thing to do frequently is to check your dog's breath. Open his mouth and smell. Now most dog's have doggie breath which may not be pleasant. But if your dog's breath is horribly offensive then it is time to see your vet and/or a vet dentist. If you see and excessive amount of tartar or if your dog starts drooling more than usual, you have another reason to have your dog checked by your vet. Make it a practice to roll back your dog's lips and look in his mouth to see whether his gums look healthy or not. Pink gums are healthy gums. While in your dog's mouth you can check to see if there are any loose or cracked teeth. Just go around the mouth and check how sturdy each tooth is. Also check for any tumors on the gums or cysts under the tongue.

Remember, your dog cannot ask you to take him to the dentist! You need to be the one to be proactive!