Maintaining Healthy Gums in Dogs

Healthy gums in dogs are important, as gum disease can give way to a number of health issues. The bacteria that gather in the gums may enter the blood stream and affect the pet’s organs, leading to various complications. Preventing gum disease and maintaining healthy teeth and gums is easier than treating the complications that may result from unhealthy gums.

Teeth Brushing

Even if teeth brushing your dog may sound impossible for you, you should know that teeth brushing is as important for the dog as it is for humans. Teeth brushing can prevent gum disease, which is present in over 70% of canines over the age of 3.

Brushing can be performed with a children’s size brush and a canine tooth paste, which can be flavored to be to your pet’s liking. Look for pastes that are tuna or liver flavored or even pork flavor may be an option, if your pet likes pork.

Brush the dog’s teeth daily or at least once every 2 days. This will remove the plaque and prevent the formation of calculus. Plaque deposits are common and will be found after each meal on the pet’s teeth. If the plaque is left for over 48 hours, it may start to develop into calculus or tartar. The tartar will gradually affect the health of the gums and may cause recurrent infections, pockets of pus and other health complications. Gum disease can be related to cardiovascular problems.

Brushing the dog’s teeth will prevent all of these.

The earlier you start brushing the dog’s teeth, the easier it will be for you. If your dog starts getting his teeth brushed from an early age, he will get used to the routine and will be cooperative. Starting the brushing when the dog is older, may be very problematic and you may have a difficult time making your dog accept the toothbrush.

Healthy Treats

The treats you give your dog may be beneficial for the dog’s gum health. While all types of dry treats are good for removing plaque from the teeth, there are also a few special treats that are particularly helpful to prevent gum disease. Consult the vet to recommend you a few treats that are good for the dog’s gums and are also suitable for the size of your dog.

Chew Toys

The chew toys can have the same benefits as the treats, removing the plaque before this turns into tartar.

The toys should be chosen according to the age and size of your pet, to ensure these won’t hurt the teeth or the jaws of your pet.

Regular Dental Cleaning

Even if you manage to clean your dog’s teeth or give him chew treats and toys regularly, you will still need to get a professional canine teeth cleaning at least once per year. This will remove the calculus that may have been deposited in the past year and cannot be removed with brushing or scraped off by treats that have a rough surface.

 

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