Dog Dental Care
Dog Dental Care
How do I brush my dog’s teeth?
It is best to start getting your puppy used to brushing their teeth at a young age. You can use a veterinary formulated toothpaste in a flavor such as “beef” or “chicken” which can make it more palatable. Some puppies do best with a finger brush or veterinary toothbrush. You will want to start slowly and increase from there.
At first, you can offer your puppy a small amount of a soft treat or the toothpaste and allow them to lick it off your finger, or off the toothbrush. Limit sessions to a few minutes or less once a day or every couple days. During these sessions, avoid restraining your dog harshly as this can set you back considerably. After a few sessions, you may progress to brushing the teeth on the sides. Don’t forget the teeth in the back! These teeth are most likely to develop calculus and hidden dental disease. Most of the veterinary toothpastes will work as long as they make contact with the teeth.
Home care is meant to prevent your dog’s dental tartar from getting worse, but will not reverse existing dental disease.
Please note that if your dog has pre-existing dental disease or periodontitis, their teeth may be too painful to allow you to brush them. If your dog seems painful or is dropping food, it is best to ask your veterinarian whether it is time to schedule a dental cleaning or oral surgery for your dog.
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Why does my dog have bad breath?
Bad breath may be a sign of dental disease in your dog. Your veterinarian can examine your dog’s mouth to determine if your pet needs a dental cleaning or oral surgery. Many systemic diseases can also cause bad breath, so if your dog does not have dental disease (or if your veterinarian notices other symptoms), you may be offered additional diagnostic testing such as bloodwork to see if a systemic disease is causing your dog’s bad breath.
Why is my dog drooling?
In some breeds of dog (such as mastiff, Bulldog or bloodhound), drooling may be caused by your dog’s lip conformation. Drooling can also be a sign of nausea or dental pain in dogs. If drooling is a common issue for your dog, it is important to have your veterinarian perform a dental examination on your dog. If your dog is too painful to allow a dental examination while awake, your veterinarian may offer a sedated examination or may recommend scheduling a dental procedure.
Why is my dog dropping food while eating?
Your dog might drop food while eating due to oral pain caused by dental disease, an oral mass, or a neurologic disease. It is important to have your veterinarian perform a dental examination on your dog at their wellness visit. If your dog is too painful or anxious to allow a dental examination while awake, your veterinarian may offer a sedated examination or may recommend scheduling a dental procedure.
How often does my dog need his teeth cleaned?
The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) recommends that dogs have their teeth cleaned at least once a year. Some dogs will need to have their teeth cleaned more often, due to breed, tooth misalignment or underlying disease. It is common for small breed dogs such as yorkshire terriers, maltese, and others to need their teeth cleaned every 6 months to prevent dental disease.
What can I expect during a dental cleaning appointment for my dog?
During a dental cleaning appointment (also called “COHAT” or comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment), your dog will be placed under general anesthesia. This allows your veterinary team to clean your dog’s teeth, perform a complete oral examination, and take dental radiographs. Dental radiographs are an important diagnostic tool to show if there is dental disease below the gum line and if there are any teeth that need to be extracted. In some cases, dental radiographs may help your veterinarian to determine if there are dental conditions that require surgical extraction of teeth or referral to a veterinary dental specialist.