Dog Dental Care For Small Dogs

Just because you own a small dog breed doesn't mean he doesn't need proper dog dental care. Now I know, it's easy to overlook your dog's teeth. But with dogs living longer thanks to all kinds of preventive medicine, dental problems have become the number one health problem in dogs.

Let's face it, even when your dog is suffering from bad breath, you may not automatically consider brushing your dog's teeth. After all, what dog doesn't have a bad dog breath right?

Luckily, doggie dental hygiene has become a lot easier to manage thanks to special toothbrushes and dog treats for clean teeth.

The information you find here will go a long way in helping you and your dog. If you have any doubts about your dog dental care though, don't hesitate to contact a vet. Your small dog may be suffering from a tooth problem you can't fix yourself.

dog dental care

Common Dental Problems In Dogs

Plaque

Plaque is the first thing to take care of. If you can rid your dog's teeth of plaque, your dog will most likely be spared of any dental problems in the future.

You see, the other 2 dog dental problems described below, all start with plaque.

Unlike humans, dogs rarely get cavities (lucky little ...). Anyway, it's not all good unfortunately, as they're much more prone to gum disease and excess tartar build-up on their teeth.

The plaque forms along the gumline where food particles and bacteria collect.

Brushing your dog's teeth will remove the plaque before anything worse happens.

Tartar

Tartar (aka calculus) is a lot harder to remove during home dog dental care. It's caused by a combination of the minerals in the dog's salive with plaque.

It usually takes 3 to 5 days before the plaque on your dog's teeth turns into tartar. So eventhough you don't need to brush your dog's teeth daily, once every 3 days is strongly recommended.

The tartar irritates the gums, causing an inflammation called gingivitis. You can check your dog for gingivitis yourself; the gums adjacent to the teeth will be red. And it also causes bad breath.

This part of the dog dental care is not something you can fix yourself as you need special instruments to remove the tarter and then polish the teeth. Your vet will be able to help your dog in no time.

Periodontal Disease

How does your lovable pooch get this disease? If you don't remove the tartar on time it will start to build up under the gums. The gums will then be separated from the teeth by so called "pockets". These pockets are a haven for even more bacterial growth.

Unfortunately, periodontal disease is not only painful, but also irreversible. So it's important to let the vet take care of tartar before it becomes too bad.

Periodontal disease can lead to abscesses, loose teeth and even bone loss or a bone infection. Even worse, as the bacteria builds up under your dog's gums, they can enter the bloodstream and consequently cause an infection of the kidneys, heart valves and liver.

Luckily, your vet can help before things get that bad. With the right instruments and procedures he can slow the disease down or stop it. So have your vet check your dogs teeth regularly.

What Should Good Dog Dental Care Include?

Dog dental care can start at home.

dog dental care toothbrush

Although daily brushing isn't necessary, I would recommend brushing your small dog's teeth at least every other day to prevent plaque.

Examine your dog's mouth daily or every other day when brushing the teeth. Be on the lookout for warning signs like bad breath, red and swollen gums, yellow-brown tartar around the gumline. Also check for pain and bleeding while touching your dog's mouth or gums. Other things to keep an eye out for and have checked by your vet are; bumps or masses in the mouth, discolored, fractured or missing teeth.

Change food and treats. Canned food is just about the worst you can give your dog. Hard kibble is certainly better. Some products are actually designed to prevent plaque from forming. When buying dog kibble, look for those products that have a Veterinary Oral Health's Council seal of acceptance.Of course the best food for your dog's teeth would be raw food including bones.

With all the fancy dental care treats, it's possible to overlook a cheap alternative like raw bones or rawhide chews. If you buy edible chews for your dog's teeth, make sure they become soft after your dog's been chewing on them for a while.

More and more dog dental care toys are becoming available as we speak. Rope toys are a great example that most dogs love to play with. Make sure the toys don't wear down the teeth though. And if your dog's a heavy chewer, buy a toy that's too big for his mouth to fit around.

dog dental care nylabone

Dog Dental Care By A Veterinarian

Here's what an oral exam by a veterinarian should look like;

First of all, he will examine the head for swelling, asymmetry or discharges which could indicate abscesses.

Then he'll examine the bite and the surface of the teeth and gums.

Next the vet will open your dog's mouth to check the inside of the teeth and gums, the palates, oral mucosa, tonsils, and ventral tongue area.

Last, he'll check the salivary glands and the lymph nodes in the neck for any inconsistencies.

Here's what professional dog dental care can entail;

It starts with an anesthetic.

Then the vet will take x-rays to determine the overall condition of the teeth and mouth.

After the x-rays, he will flush your dog’s mouth with a solution to kill the bacteria.

Next, the teeth will be cleaned with ultrasonic scalers, both above and below the gum lines. This is actually the reason why your dog needs to be asleep.

After the initial cleaning, the vet will use a disclosing solution to find any remaining plaque or tartar.

Once the teeth are cleaned, the vet will polish the teeth to remove any scratches.

The gums and every single tooth is then inspected for any signs of disease.

After that last inspection, the mouth is again flushed with a solution to kill bacteria.

And last but not least, some vets like to apply a paste to the teeth that will slow down plaque buildup.

When you pick up your dog later on, the vet should give you advice and tips on home dog dental care.

dog dental care before and after

Dog Care:
How To Brush Your Dog's Teeth

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