Is Dog Teeth Cleaning Important?

A dogs dental health, is just as important as your own dental health. Dental disease affects over 78% of dogs over the age of 3. Visiting a veterinarian isn't always needed when it comes to keeping your dogs teeth white and shiny. Dog brushing in the comfort of your own home, plus regular cleanings at the veterinarian, cost somewhere between $30-60. If you do decide to clean your dogs teeth yourself here are some tips: buy pet friendly toothpaste, have the right tools and timing is everything.

Pet friendly toothpaste is an obvious tip, but when it comes to having the right tools for the job, some people may be lost. Start out with your fingers, let the dog familiarize him/herself with the toothpaste, then gently rub the dogs tooth and gum. After a few weeks, introduce an animal toothbrush. Lastly, you can buy finger cots, in rubber or latex. After cleanings, reward your dog. Give him/her a bone.

A good tip, is to buy dog treats that have "tartar control". Some dog treats will claim to have tartar control, but not all dog treats are created equal. Generally, the popular name brands do have tartar control, but whether its worth spending a few extra dollars for them, is completely up to you, the buyer. If you aren't into cleaning your dogs teeth yourself, you can always simply take your dog to the veterinarian. These visits can cost between $70-350. The higher the cost generally depends on if pre-anesthetic blood work, the difficulty of doing the work on the dog and the amount of build-up on teeth and under the gum line.

The bill can increase to a whopping $1,000 or more, if the dog requires late stage surgery or extractions are needed to be done for whatever reason. The whole teeth cleaning process at the veterinarians office is rather simple. The veterinarian first examines the dogs teeth and gums, then the veterinarian administers anesthetic.

After the anesthetic has been administered, the teeth and gums are cleaned of tartar and plaque. The veterinarian then smoothes the surface of the roots and lastly rinses out the dogs mouth. Sometimes after a cleaning, there is a fluoride treatment. When the visit is over, the veterinarian will keep a chart of your dogs teeth problems. Now that you are informed about dog teeth cleaning, you can make your own decisions about your dogs dental health.

Learn how it is simple to clean dog teeth if you don't take them to the vet for dangerous and expensive dental scaling. It is a simple matter for individuals to clean their dog's teeth aware of our canine toothpaste. These all natural products are available in gels and sprays for dogs that are simple to use.