Dental Care

Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is important, as ignoring it can lead to plaque build-up and dental problems. Dental disease is very common in dogs, second only to ear infections, and can be extremely uncomfortable – much as it would be for us. To avoid expensive treatment costs, check and clean your dog’s teeth as part of their regular grooming routine. Dental care is just as important to them as it is to us.

Maintaining healthy teeth

Here are some tips for keeping your dog’s teeth healthy.

• Feed them the right food – some owners favour wet foods for their dog over dry. However, dry dog food may have the added benefit of exercising their chewing muscles and provide a mild cleaning effect on the teeth.
• Every dog is unique, so there’s never one diet that will suit all dogs. If you’re unsure what works best for your dog, a vet or reputable pet shop will be able to give you more specific advice on the best diet.
• Brush your dog’s teeth regularly – follow the tips below.
• Dental chews and treats are also a good way of helping to keep your dog’s teeth clean.
• Feeding bones is controversial – although raw, meaty bones may be a tasty treat for your dog and do help clean teeth, they can be hazardous. Bones can cause dental fractures with dogs who eat ‘energetically’, and can cause constipation. Cooked bones are likely to fragment and cause internal damage.

How to clean your pet’s teeth

You should keep brushing your dog’s teeth as part of a regular grooming routine.

• Ask your vet first – before you start cleaning your dog’s teeth, it’s always best to ask your vet to show you the best way to do this. Different breeds show varying jaw alignments and how the teeth meet. Brachycephalic dogs, like Pugs and Chihuahuas, have poorly aligned jaws, with crowded or absent teeth, and are therefore more likely to suffer from dental disease.
• Start teeth cleaning when they’re a puppy and brush their teeth everyday to get them used to it. If you haven’t done this before, gradually introduce it by having your finger near their mouth. Keep doing this and then slowly introduce brushing until this is natural.
• Buy a dog toothpaste – human ones aren’t suitable. You can use a special dog toothbrush that goes over your finger to brush their teeth, but if you don’t have one then a child-sized toothbrush is fine.