Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Your Dog's Teeth Are Important

By Jennifer Bowers


If you are like most other pet owners, you feel that your dog is a member of your family. He sticks by your side and keeps you company without asking for anything back. You surely want your dog to have a long, happy life, so you need to make sure you don't neglect his health.

The one thing most people forget about in taking care of their dogs is that their teeth also need to be taken care of. Wild dogs take care of their teeth by chewing on raw bone; the bone scrapes the plaque and helps remove bits of meat stuck in between the teeth.

But, since your dog is not wild, it is up to you to keep his teeth clean and healthy. The soft canned food and the small hard chunks of food just don't work all that well when it comes to cleaning teeth.

If your dog is special to you, help him out and take care of his teeth for him. One of the first things you should do is to get your dogs some raw bones to chew on, at least a few times per week.

A rawhide bone from the pet store is great for this. They can just chew on the bone and remove the plaque along with loosening any bit of meat that might be stuck between the teeth.

If they aren't interested in chewing bones, then you can brush their teeth with toothbrush and toothpaste. Don't give him the same toothbrush and toothpaste that you would use.

You can find special brushes and toothpaste for your dog at the local pet store. Brushing them daily is preferred, but if it's not feasible, then brush them at least 3-4 times weekly.

Scrub the teeth well and massage the gums also to provide for good circulation within his gums. Get rid of any food that gets stuck in his teeth. You should also opt for dry food instead than soft food to keep your dog's teeth cleaner.

It doesn't clean teeth completely, but it does help some. You can also give your dog biscuits, since they are hard and they remove plaque.

The vet should check your dog's teeth at every visit. They can spot anything that you may have missed and they can offer advice on how to clean the teeth better or what foods you could give to your dog to naturally help clean the teeth and keep bacteria at bay.

It's better to treat the teeth before things get out of hand and get more expensive for your pocketbook. Help your friend live a long, healthy life and make sure you don't forget his teeth.




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