Everything You Should Know About Your Canines` Canines
As humans, we all know the importance of looking after our teeth and making them last a lifetime and the same thing goes for our canine companions. Unlike humans, dogs can`t rely on regular dentist appointments, with fillings to see them over the cavities and dentures to give them a Hollywood smile in their golden years! Keeping their teeth and gums clean and healthy should therefore be part of a regular grooming regime right from the start, not only to see them through many long and happy years but also to help to reduce the curse of nasty dog breath.
Just like a baby, a young puppy has his own tiny razor sharp milk teeth, a set of 28 that appear around a month after birth, during the time he suckles from his mother. These are shed at around four months and replaced before his first birthday by a larger set of 42 adult teeth, which need to be kept strong and healthy through all the years of nibbling, grinding and tearing his favourite foods and gnawing on all those tasty bones and chews.
Different textures of food are important to a growing dog throughout his life, but feeding him on dog biscuits and crunchy dry kibbles goes a long way to maintaining healthy teeth and gums by helping to scratch away food residue and plaque. Any build-up of tartar can ultimately lead to gum disease which can in turn have serious consequences for the dog`s general health and well-being, so it`s essential to have him crunching on abrasive treats on a regular basis. Treats such as rawhide chews and pigs ears serve a similar purpose, but also generate the production of saliva which neutralises mouth acids, washing away food debris and keeping the mouth clean.
Brushing your dog`s teeth may prove a bit of a challenge, but it`s well worth getting him used to the experience while he`s young and most good pet stores stock doggy toothbrushes along with toothpaste in appealing meaty flavours. Dog toothbrushes are designed to glide easily around your dog`s mouth and fit snugly over the fingertip enabling you to tackle all those hard-to-reach places. There are also mineral salt solutions with edible detergents which can be rubbed onto the teeth using a dry cloth. Provided you can take time out to brush his teeth as often as possible, ideally as part of a daily routine, his mouth is sure to remain in great shape. Your dog can`t tell you when he`s got a problem, so an annual visit to the vet for an oral check-up is the duty of any responsible dog owner. This will enable you to spot any other issues such as oral infections and treat them as quickly as possible.
When it comes to buying accessories for his oral hygiene, remember your dog`s gums are just as important as his teeth and special gum-massaging brushes are a great investment. Gum massaging can also be done simply by using a finger, making gentle, circular movements around each tooth to stimulate blood circulation. Staying in good health should be fun whether you`re a human or a dog, so giving him dog toys that massage his gums is another good move. Tug-of-war toys made from rope or plastic serve to massage the gums gently as your dog moves his head while clinging on as tightly as possible and it`s a great way of bonding and having fun with him too.
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