Read About Your Dog and Dental Care

Like nearly everything having to do with your dog´s training, dental care is best started with your puppy. If you introduce them to handling early on, it will be easier later when they need to be examined. Owners frequently overlook dental care for dogs, even though many veterinarians recommend regular attention to the teeth.

1. Home Dental Care This process can be progressive. Start with simply dipping your finger in beef broth to make it more interesting for your dog when you are touching his teeth and gums. Surely, you've noticed by now that food makes anything more interesting to your pup. You need to focus on the areas of the gums where the teeth meet the gums. As your dog becomes accustomed to having his teeth examined, you can progress to gauze wrapped around your finger and later to a toothbrush. You should try to brush your dog's teeth twice a week.

2. Veterinary Dental Care Various professionals recommend the following procedureswhen your dog needs extensive dental work or intensive tooth cleaning by your veterinarian:
   1. Pre-anesthetic exam

   2. Anesthesia monitoring

   3. Dental radiographs (x-rays)

   4. Scaling & Polishing

   5. Fluoride/sealants

Finally, you should keep in mind that fully sedating smaller dogs is not recommended. You will need to consult with your vet regarding sedation of a tiny dog. Perhaps it might be possible for the vet to use a localized anesthesia that will work better with their wee bodies.

3. Dental and Breath Chews There are a variety of products on the market today for your dog´s dental health. Investigate several of the new projects to determine the best choice for your dog. There are many foods that also assist in maintaining your dog&autes dental heath.

Finally, your dog´s routine veterinary visits should also include a dental exam. Dental care is more than just teeth. Oral health can affect your pet's entire body, including the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.