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Time to get our teeth into dog dental care

Time to get our teeth into dog dental care
February is known among vets as 'dental care month'. In any case, it is necessary to take your four-legged friend to the vet at least once a year for a check-up, annual vaccinations and the like. He o

February is known among vets as 'dental care month'. In any case, it is necessary to take your four-legged friend to the vet at least once a year for a check-up, annual vaccinations and the like. He or she has undoubtedly already stressed the importance of good dental care for your dog. You can do most dental care at home without any problem. But why is good dental hygiene in dogs so crucial?

 

Champion chewers

Teeth of dogs are subjected to much more stress than those of humans. Dogs love to chew on sticks or branches, toys and basically anything they come across. They do this simply because it is fun or sometimes out of boredom or frustration. This chewing behaviour is perfectly normal and instinctive. As the teeth rub against each other, it keeps the jaws strong and cleans them in a natural way. But chewing on things is far from sufficient to keep the teeth clean.


Dental problems

We recommend that you give your dog preventive dental care on a regular basis. If you don't, your four-legged friend could face dental problems. Initially, plaque can build up and tartar will gradually appear. Eventually, the dog can develop gum inflammation and may also experience pain in his mouth, difficulty chewing, drooling, an unpleasant mouth odour or gum bleeding. If your dog is suffering from these symptoms, he or she most likely has a medical problem that needs to be treated by your vet. Gum disease, if left untreated, can eventually lead to other dental problems and sometimes kidney, liver and heart disease.

Does your dog have a penetrating and persistent mouth odour? This is never a good sign. Either he is suffering from a stomach problem, or the cause is a dental issue. Ask your veterinarian for advice. Does your pet have brown or black teeth? Then it is also crucial to schedule a vet visit as soon as possible. The dental care your dog will receive at the vet is purely curative in that case. In the first place, preventive dental care is necessary. After all, there is a reason why they say: prevention is better than cure.


Heredity, breed and nutrition

Every dog needs routine dental care, regardless of breed and age. We do know that certain breeds are more likely to develop dental problems than others. For example, a toy poodle will suffer more from dental problems than a large poodle. What plays an even bigger role than breed is heredity. If a dog's parents have dental problems, there is a good chance that they will pass them on to their children.

The type of food has an even more important effect. Wet foods leave more food residues around the teeth and in the pet’s mouth. This gives bacteria a chance to ferment, causing bad breath and plaque, and in time tartar and possibly gum disease. Dry food such as kibble may seem like a solution at first glance, but this is not always the case! Do you have a smaller dog? Then you surely know that they often tend not to chew their kibble but to swallow them immediately. The teeth of a small dog often become dirty more quickly as a result. With larger dogs, it is generally a different story. They usually chew their kibble more and yep, you guessed it: chewing indirectly ensures a natural cleaning of the teeth.


You can’t teach an old dog new tricks

Above you could read why it is essential to properly care for dog teeth. Our advice is to start as early as possible. Getting the animal used to brushing or cleaning his teeth and properly teaching him is very important. It is best to start at a young age. The longer you wait to start a good dental hygiene routine, the more problems can develop over time. A puppy before the change of teeth does not yet benefit from specific dental care, but it does benefit from gradual habituation to dental care. After the change of teeth (on average from 4-6 months), preventive dental hygiene is of utmost importance!

Wondering how best to get started and with which products? Find out in our next blog post on dental care.

Do you have a business and want to offer your four-legged customers high-quality dental care products such as a good dog toothpaste? This is possible with the Show Tech toothpaste display! You can choose between 2 delicious flavours: beef or fresh mint.

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