You’ve made it to week three of Fenrir’s 12 Week Plan! This week we’ll be tackling dental care. You know to brush your teeth twice a day, but did you know your dog can also benefit from a good teeth brushing? You don’t even have to make a vet trip.
Your dog is susceptible to the same dental problems that humans are. They can get gingivitis, cavities, chipped teeth, infections… you get the idea! That’s why it’s so important to look at and take good care of your dog’s teeth. They can’t tell you when something is wrong. It’s up to you to be vigilant, especially because your dog can’t brush their own teeth.
So, what does dental care for your dog look like? What items do you need, and what can you expect at vet visits? We’re here to give you all the information you need to keep your dog’s pearly whites healthy for years to come.
Why do Dogs Need Dental Care?
Dental care is preventative in nature. You don’t start brushing your teeth after you get a cavity. You brush your teeth to keep cavities from happening. It’s the same with your dog. In order to keep their teeth healthy, you need to start as soon as possible with caring for them.
Proper care of your dog’s teeth can prevent a wide variety of issues. By taking care of dental hygiene, you’ll prevent things like: tooth loss, dental disease, pain, gingivitis and more. It can even help prevent other diseases. Dental problems can also be a sign of underlying health conditions, so it’s especially important to take into account during your annual vet visit.
You wouldn’t spend your life in pain over a cavity, chipped tooth, or infection and your dog doesn’t have to either. Let’s take a look at what you can do to care for your dog’s teeth at home and what your vet can do to help.
Dental Care at Home
It’s good for you to brush your teeth twice a day and that’s ideally how often your dog would brush their teeth as well. Did you know that an adult dog has 42 permanent teeth? That’s 10 more than an adult human. You’ll need to help them care for all of them since they can’t do it themselves. We’ve even provided you with a sheet that lists out items you’ll need.
Teeth brushing is an important part of your dog’s at-home care. If you can do it twice a day, it’s highly recommended. Those few minutes spent in the morning and evening with a toothbrush and some toothpaste will make a huge difference. It will fight not only cavities and other diseases, but it can help fight that smelly dog breath.
If you can’t brush your dog’s teeth twice a day, every day, you should be doing it at least three times a week. We understand that you get busy with other things, but dental health really is that important. We can’t stress it enough. There are a wide variety of different flavoured, dog specific toothpastes out on the market along with toothbrushes. There will be something out there that works for you and your dog.
Along with brushing their teeth, you should provide things like dental treats and toys. These are made with ridges that help clean your dog’s teeth while they chew on them. They aren’t a replacement for teeth brushing, but they do help to mechanically clean your dog’s teeth in a similar fashion. They’ll scrape some of the plaque away while having a tasty treat or playing.
There are even water additives that you can use to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy. They’re flavourless and can go right in their water bowl. The additives are safe to consume, so you don’t need to worry about your dog getting sick, and they work a lot like mouthwash does for you. It’ll help getting into all of those little spaces and kill bacteria you might not be able to reach with a toothbrush or chew.
Dental Care at the Vet
Your vet is your biggest ally in the fight for good dental care. Along with a yearly check up and vaccine update, you should also be scheduling your dog a dental appointment. It’s very similar to when you go to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned. A dental cleaning isn’t just about teeth cleaning though.
Your vet can only look so closely at your dog’s teeth during a regular check up. They’ll check for things like chips, cracks, and inflammation, but a dental appointment allows them to take a closer look and check for other diseases and problems that they may not see normally.
When you call to schedule the appointment- or if you schedule it at the end of your vet visit- you will be given instructions similar to that of when you got your dog fixed. Don’t panic! Dentals are considered a surgery appointment and you’re told to withhold food, because your dog is put under anaesthesia for the procedure.
Think about when you go to the dentist. You know exactly what is going on and can sit still even though it’s uncomfortable. When the dentist takes an x-ray, you know not to bite down on the dental plate. Unfortunately, the vet can’t communicate with your dog the same way you do with your dentist. For everyone’s health and safety, they’re put to sleep for the procedure. This way they don’t injure themselves or someone else.
During the dental, your vet will clean their teeth and look for signs of other possible issues. They’ll be able to check for things like gum disease, infected teeth, abscesses, and other infections. If anything changes or comes up during your dog’s dental, you’ll get a call from the clinic to inform you of what’s going on and what your vet thinks the best course of action is.
We know it can be scary, but there’s nothing to worry about. Your vet is a trained professional, and dentals and other oral procedures are routine. It also makes for the perfect opportunity to discuss dental health and care with your vet. They’ll be able to recommend toothpastes, brushes, and other items you can use at home.
What Happens if I Don’t take Dental Care Seriously?
We know it can be easy to overlook and most of us don’t brush our teeth as regularly as we should either. Life gets busy. It slips your mind. You’ll just ‘do it later.’ What about your dog though? They can’t remind you or do it themselves. They need you to look out for them or poor oral health could make them sick. There’s a reason your vet is so adamant about getting your dog’s dental appointment scheduled.
Canine Periodontal Disease
This is one of the most common and most problematic health problems dogs face. Also called gum disease or PD, this health issue has many layers to it. When your dog eats, food and bacteria get pushed up towards the gumline. With enough time this turns into plaque and eventually tartar. You’ll recognize tartar as a brownish discoloration on the teeth near the gums. This tartar irritates the gums and causes gingivitis.
That’s not all though. If left untreated, it can lead to other health complications. It has been linked to an increased risk of: kidney disease, liver disease, and heart disease. It’s so important to keep an eye on your dog’s teeth in order to help prevent these more severe problems. Not only that, but it can lead to a painful mouth, bleeding, and the need to have teeth pulled. Gum disease is a serious problem and should be treated as such.
Signs to look out for are excessive drooling and loss of appetite. Both are caused by irritated gums. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for difficulty chewing, head shyness when you try to look in their mouth, facial swelling, and red gums. They may even paw or rub at their mouth, because it hurts. Any of these signs warrant a visit to the vet to make sure everything is okay and to get it fixed in the event that it isn’t.
You can’t cure periodontal disease, but you can prevent it from getting worse. Regular teeth brushing will halt its advance so it doesn’t become a bigger problem. It will keep teeth clean so that no more tartar builds up and no more irritation occurs. This is why preventative care is so important.
Abscesses
Most of us have either had or have known someone who has had an abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pocket of infection that’s normally near the root of the tooth and jawbone. It’s extremely painful. It causes difficulty eating and swelling along the affected area.
Just like you, your dog will need to visit a doctor to have it drained. They’ll need antibiotics to get the infection under control as well. Your vet may even recommend a soft food diet while they recover. This is especially true in the event that extracting the tooth was necessary.
Broken Teeth and Roots
Your dog can chip a tooth or end up with damaged roots just like you can. It’s even more common for them, because they like to chew on things. They may accidentally bite down on something wrong or get into something they shouldn’t. This can lead to fractured or broken teeth and roots. If your dog chips a tooth near the back or in an area that doesn’t bother them too much, you might never know if you aren’t brushing their teeth regularly.
Brushing their teeth isn’t just about getting them clean. It gives you a chance to examine their mouth for anything that may potentially be a problem in the future.
Conclusion
We know this week’s plan has been a pretty heavy topic, but it’s an important one. Dental care is important to your dog’s overall health. Getting them scheduled at the vet for cleanings is just as important as their regular check ups. So, next time you're at the vet, ask them about toothpaste and other care products. They may even be able to recommend a toothpaste subscription so you don’t forget to buy it!
Do you have a dental story you want to share? Make sure you share it with us on social media. We’d love to hear from you.