Search:

Home | Pets


Dental Care Tips For Your Dog

By: Xavier Gallery

Dental care is important responsibility for pet owners, but too many owners are not familiar with the steps to maintaining the dental hygiene of their dog. Your dogs’ mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, and even though their natural defense systems are very effective, certain issues can spiral out of control if not recognized and treated.

Most diseases of the mouth start with the formation of gingivitis. This is a reddening or swelling of the gums that is often caused by a buildup of plaque and tarter on the teeth. While the initial stages of gingivitis are easy to treat, more advanced complications include tooth loss and jaw bone infections. Early warning signs of this condition include bad breath, gum bleeding, and even a change in eating patterns as a result of mouth pain.

Preventing gingivitis and the onset of more severe conditions can be done by proactively monitoring your dogs’ dental health. This starts with the type of food you feed them. It is important to include plenty of dry food in the diet. Dry food helps to eliminate plaque and tarter through the natural chewing process. Even if your dog typically eats canned food, you can integrate a dry option by mixing it with the canned products or by offering canned food at only one of their meals.

Water is another essential part of doggie dental care since it provides the fluoride used to strengthen the teeth. Tap water is actually more beneficial than bottled water because it contains a much higher level of fluoride. The average sized dog should drink between two and four cups of water a day. You can add even more benefits to drinking water by adding an oral hygiene solution to the water. These products are available at pet supply stores and are very effective at preventing problems down the road.

Beyond these simple diet tips, there are other things you can make available that will help your dog maintain a healthy mouth. There are actually toothpastes and brushes designed specifically for dogs. While it can take some time for your pet to become accustomed to the process, brushing your dogs’ teeth for a minute or two each day will help their bodies naturally breakdown the buildup of plaque and tarter.

You can also help keep your dogs’ mouth clean by purchasing the right treats and toys. Stay away from products that are soft and sticky since they can remain in your dogs’ mouth for extended periods of time. Also pay attention to ingredients like sugar that do more harm than good. Ideally, you would try a treat like carrots, which are both healthy and crunchy. There are also a number of treats made specifically to promote dental health. Just read the ingredients and make sure they do everything they advertise.

If you do run into a dental concern with your dog, the best step is to talk with your veterinarian. They will examine your dog and recommend the best treatment plan. In some cases this will include a professional cleaning. This can involve putting your dog to sleep and working extensively on their mouth. While this can procedure can be stressful for both you and your pet, starting with a clean slate will make it easier to implement a long-term dental strategy.

Article Source: http://www.newagelivingarticles.com

1-800-PetMeds Coupons is your source for the latest discounts available at 1-800-PetMeds. Maximize your savings on pet meds by visiting our site first.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Pets Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Pets

 Free Traffic


banner











Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Article Directory Software
Click here to download the exact software that powers this directory for FREE. Start your own article directory today!
Google
Top Authors
Submit Articles
Member Login
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
Little Book Of Becoming
Masters of the Secret
The Singularity Is Near
Distribute Your Articles to 1000's!
Wildwind Enterprises
Bookstore
About Us
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Links
All Links Directory All Links Directory is 100% SEO friendly Directory and Human Edited.

Accurate Online Psychic Readings Lilly provides a unique personal empowerment, spiritual approach to intuitive readings, as well as a vast array of other resources for the spiritual seeker. Access your Spiritual Guidance and turn negative karma into spiritual gold!

Psychic Sights An extensive portal of Psychic links, Metaphysical and New Age links and resources focused on quality.

Earth Spirits.org

Gaiam.com, Inc
Spiritual Cinema Circle
Visit the metaphysical directory for a complete list of metaphysics related websites.
Royalty Free Images
NewAgeLivingArticles.com » Copyright © 2007 WildWind Enterprises
Terms of Service | Submission Guidelines | Contact Us | Link to Us| Privacy Policy | About Us | Article Submissions With A Click 100's of Sites!

Powered by Article Dashboard