Source of Love for Pets
For many, keeping a dog is a wonderful experience. Dogs area source of love and companionship and the unconditional love the ownerreceives in return is priceless. However, looking ater your pets’ overall
health is just as important as looking after your own, keeping them with you
longer.
Gum Diseases
One of the main problems affecting a dogs health is gum
disease, caused by the build-up of plaque bacteria, which usually results in bad breath. You may
think that plaque is hardly a cause for concern, however it can be quite
dangerous.
Gum disease in dogs, and cats, is caused by the same disease
process as in humans. Dental plaque
builds up and hardens into tartar (calculus) which, in turn, provides a rough
surface on the teeth for even more plaque to stick to. As in humans, gingivitis (red swollen gums)
in dogs is linked with the more systemic diseases like heart and kidney
disease. Their oral health really does
matter!
Plaque Problem
So, how do you get
rid of plaque from your pet’s teeth? The most sensible answer would be to
avoid this problem before it happens. Tooth brushing is the best way to removeplaque and it is not as difficult as it sounds!
It is best to start an oral hygiene routine when your puppy is around 8
weeks old, but it is never too early or too late to start. Starting with an older pet may take a little
more time before it is accepted as part of overall grooming.
Fight with Germs & Tartar
Try lifting the dog up from the floor and onto a surface
such as your lap or a chair. The floor may be confused with playtime! When
brushing you need to ensure that you clean all five surfaces of each
tooth. Be methodical, start with the
lower jaw and use a gentle circular motion to clean the whole tooth, paying
particular attention to where the gum and teeth meet. The ideal toothbrush will
allow you access to all the teeth. A
small head with medium textured filments is usually recommended. Finger brushes are another option, which some
owners find easier to use.
Brushing the Teeth
Pet toothpastes are designed to encourage acceptance of
brushing with their pet-friendly flavourings.
Some contain enzymes or other anti-plaque ingredients, designed to
enhance brushing. Human pastes should
not be used as they contain ingredients that are not suitable for animals.
Chewing Exclusively
Chews and bones are also an effective means of aggravating
the plaque. However, whilst chewing
bones and hard treats are fun, pets do not all chew equally on all tooth
surfaces. Consequently, chewing must not
be relied on exclusively to clean your pet’s teeth.
Extremely Effected
In some cases, toothbrushing may not prove to be easy. In
these cases an alternative option to this problem would be to use a natural
dietry supplement such as PlaqueOff. PlaqueOff for
dogs is a
specially selected Norwegian seaweed which has been proven to have
anti-sticking properties. It is
extremely effective at controlling the build-up of plaque bacteria and, in
particular, against bad breath! It is
simply added to the pet’s wet or dry food once daily and results are usually
seen between 8-12 weeks. When used
together with tooth brushing the results are outstanding.
Major 3 P's
What ever the case, when
establishing an oral hygiene routine, just remember the 3 P’s: Patience, Praise
and Prizes. This will make tooth
brushing a fun time for your pet.
