Caring for Your Dogs Teeth

A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through his mouth, by tasting and chewing on things. But, he also uses his mouth is as his hands. He carries and pulls with it as well as defends himself. Therefore healthy teeth and gums are very important.

A dog's teeth need the same care as a human's. Therefore, it's important that you take care of his teeth as you would your own. The best way to do this, of course, is to brush them, which should be done at least twice a week. There are special tooth brushes designed to fit in a dog's mouth as well as special chicken flavored tooth paste to make the task easier. But sometimes, brushing your dog's teeth can be a real hassle. For instance, there are some dogs that will flee at the sight of a toothbrush and it is very had to coax a seventy pound Rottweiler from under the bed.

So, how can you get Bruno the Rottweiler to care for his teeth? Here are several alternatives to toothbrushing.

Dog Food

Dog food is a major cause of tooth decay. Believe it or not, canned dog food, though it tastes real good, is not good for Bruno's teeth. Therefore, you should not feed it to him all the time; once in awhile, as a treat, or on a special occasion is fine. Instead, Bruno should eat a good quality hard dry dog food. This will keep his teeth and gums exercised, as well as cleaned.

Bones

Of course, Bruno needs more than just dry dog food to keep his teeth white and his gums healthy. Chewing on things, such as sticks, the furniture and golf balls, though it is good exercise for his gums, is not very healthy, especially if he were to swallow the wrong thing. Or, in the case of the furniture, just chewing on it is not a good idea on his part. So, you can provide him with a bone, either rawhide or real, as a diversion. These come in various sizes to fit your dog. Bruno will want a larger one, while a smaller dog would necessarily need a smaller bone. Either way, he can exercise and clean his teeth without fear of choking.

Enzymatic Rawhide Chips

You can try some of the rawhide chips that are infused with enzymes designed to kill your dog's bad breath as well as remove tartar and plaque. However, the taste leaves something to be desired and Bruno may not like them, thus leaving them untouched. If he does not use them, they won't work.

Regular Visits to the Veterinarian

Of course, the veterinarian is the best person to keep Bruno's teeth in perfect health. As much as he will protest, regular visits insure good oral and physical health. Your dog's veterinarian will provide him the proper care that will keep him healthy and happy for years to come.

Arlene Mason is a freelance writer living outside of Dallas, Texas with her husband and two dogs. She has written and published the following e-books: "Understanding Low-Carb Dieting", "On the Edge" and "Stepping Stones" which are all available at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com

Latest News


A Season of Responsibility for New Pet Owners
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
Will the owner have a safe, pet-ready household? -- Will the owner be capable of caring for the pet for its lifetime, both in terms of time and financial ...

How to protect your house and pets during a freeze freezing ...
Dallas Morning News, TX - 27 minutes ago
Bring pets inside. Provide adequate shelter that is elevated and facing away from the wind for pets that must remain outside.
That's a chilling wind Waco Tribune Herald
all 2 news articles

Homeless pets still need to eat
Reuters - 22 hours ago
With foreclosures of homes on the rise, so are stories of pet abandonment, but pet food maker Del Monte says sales of dog and cat food and treats hasn’t ...
Earnings Note: Del Monte Foods 2Q09 - Taming Pets The Alacra Store (subscription)
all 2 news articles

Pet-centric Retail Site Muttropolis.com Included in Internet ...
MarketWatch - Dec 3, 2008
Featured alongside some of the world's most highly regarded brands, Muttropolis is one of only three pet related sites to be included among the honorees and ...
ToolKing.com Makes Internet Retailer’s Hot 100 Retail Web Site List WebWire (press release)
Ritz Interactive Named to Internet Retailer's 2009 Hot 100 Best ... International Business Times
Ritz Interactive Named to Internet Retailer's 2009 Hot 100 Best ... MarketWatch
all 12 news articles

Make sure pets have safe, happy holidays
Pioneer Press Online, IL - 6 hours ago
As families start pulling out their favorite holiday recipes and shopping lists and decorations, it's easy to overlook one hairy detail: The family pets. ...

Bob Shallit: New animal hospital to offer hotel luxury for pets
Sacramento Bee,  USA - 9 hours ago
"It won't look like an animal hospital," says Dr. Schenck, who has run Mueller Pet Medical Center near Sac Executive Airport for the past 30 years. ...

Hilary Duff Has Precious Pets
Just Jared, NY - 5 hours ago
Hilary Duff buys a couple of fluffy toys for her cat on her trip to Maxwell Dog pet store in LA on Wednesday. Last week, Hilary attended the Rodeo Walk of ...

Weekly Vista

Pets as presents: Cute, but is it practical?
Weekly Vista, AR - 21 hours ago
Adopting a pet at Christmastime may bring joy to the family, but it also comes with responsibilities and expenses for years to come. ...
Exponential potential Arkansas Democrat Gazette
all 2 news articles

InSight UT: Pets line up to take their pictures with Santa Claus
Tennessee Journalist, TN - 17 hours ago
23 pet owners took their animals to the Agri Feed Pet Supply store to get their pictures taken with Santa Claus. Many owners said they participated in the ...
Have your pet pose with Santa to benefit animal organizations Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
Santa Paws is coming to town State Gazette
all 3 news articles

Animal Angel Tree seeks donations for needy pets
Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, WA - 31 minutes ago
By the Herald staff Holidays are a time for helping the less fortunate, and that can include pets too, say organizers of two Tri-City pet assistance efforts ...

Resources