Dogs Introduction
Mast Cell Tumours
Choosing
a Dog
First Aid for Dogs
Vaccination
Feeding
Microchipping
Puppy socialisation
Insurance
Neutering
Worming
Fleas
Obedience Training
House Training
Toys and Games
Exercise
Dental
Care
Breeding from
your Dog
"Dry Eye" (KCS)
Kennel Cough
Allergic Skin Disease
Arthritis
The Older Male Dog
The Older Female Dog
Chocolate Poisoning
Blood Donors Wanted
Ticks
Further Information
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Dental Care
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Sonya J. Miller-Smith
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Dental disease is extremely common
in our pets, with nearly all dogs showing some signs of decay by four or five
years of age. As our pets get older, the typical ‘dog breath’ can
grow increasingly worse, creating a barrier between us and our canine friends.
At the practice we spend a considerable amount of time removing dental scale
and extracting damaged teeth from otherwise healthy dogs. The reason is simple – dogs
do not brush their teeth!
Dental problems can be alleviated by several means, and as always, prevention
is better than cure.
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Dry foods are more abrasive than canned meats and work by wiping plaque,
tartar and staining from the tooth’s surface as the food is being
eaten, mimicking the action of bones, skin and tough fibrous tissue in
the diets of wild dogs. Some companies even produce diets specifically
designed to keep teeth clean.
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Dental chews and bones are another method of removing plaque and tartar
from the surface of dogs’ teeth. Chewing on bones massages the gums
and promotes good blood flow to the live part of the teeth, whilst their
fibrous nature scrapes bacteria from the teeth’s surface. A wide
selection of dental chews and bones are commercially available, and negate
the need to feed real bones, which may splinter or stick in the dogs’ intestines
if swallowed.
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Brushing. Undoubtedly the best method of preventing decay is to brush
your dog’s teeth. The best time to start is when your dog is young,
but with patience and care, brushing can be started at any age. It is important
that you use a specially designed animal tooth brush, as the layer of enamel
on our pet’s teeth is thinner than that on our own, and can be damaged
by hard brushes. Canine toothpaste is also widely available, which, in
addition to not foaming, comes in a variety of meaty flavours, making the
whole process more enjoyable for your dog. |
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Most dogs accept brushing very well if they are
introduced to the procedure in a calm and patient way. The best way is
as follows:
Step 1 |
Gently stroke the outside of your dog’s cheeks with
your finger only (no brush) and slowly lift the lip for about 10 to 20
seconds. Reward, praise and treat at the end of the session.
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Step 2 |
Repeat as above, and also place a small amount of toothpaste on the end
of your finger and let your dog sample it. |
Step 3 |
Repeat Step 2 but this time gently run your finger or finger toothbrush
and a small amount of toothpaste over your pet’s teeth for 30 – 45
seconds. Reward with a treat and praise. |
Step 4 |
Repeat Step 3 adding 15 seconds time to running your finger or finger
toothbrush over your dog’s teeth. Always reward with a treat and
praise. |
Step 5 |
If all is going well run your finger over the teeth for 30 seconds and
then gently insert the toothbrush and again run over the teeth for 30 seconds. |
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Step 6 |
Repeat as Step 5 and increase the time by 30 seconds. |
Step 7 |
By this time you should be aiming to spend at least one minute on each
side of the mouth. |
If you would like any further advice about dental care and oral hygiene for
your dog, please feel free to pop into the practice. We sell a variety of toothpastes,
finger toothbrushes and toothbrushes, and are happy to advise on their use.
The nurse’s clinics, which are run free of charge, provide an ideal opportunity
to practice the use of all of these products and discuss all aspect of dental
care.
© Darwin Veterinary Centre Limited 2002-2006.
All rights reserved.
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