Doggie Dental Care

Have you ever been playing with your dog or they’re giving you kisses and you suddenly get a whiff of their stinky breath? Well, that could be because their teeth need to be cleaned! Yes, you read that right! Dogs’ teeth, just like every other part of them, require special care and cleaning their teeth can even make their breath stink a little bit less! It’s a win for both you and your pup.

While the idea of cleaning your dog’s teeth might seem goofy -- after all these are the animals that are known for drinking water out of weird places like toilets and puddles and who will chew on random sticks or bones -- it can actually really improve their quality of life. Just like with humans, if you don’t take care of your dog’s teeth they can actually experience dental problems and have plaque build up. Both of these things can be irritating and even painful for your pup to experience so it is important to stay on top of your dog’s dental health in order to keep them comfortable!

There are several different things you can do to make sure your dog’s teeth are clean and healthy. For one, be sure to have your dog on the right diet! Depending on your dog, there are certain diets that are better for both their digestive system and their teeth so it’s best to get in contact with your vet to see what diet works best for your dog. 

Other ways to clean their teeth is to physically brush them yourself. There are finger brushes that you can slip on any finger and put doggie toothpaste on and then rub all on their teeth to clean them. Make sure the toothpaste is for dogs though because human toothpaste can have ingredients that are toxic to your dog and giving it to them can do more harm than good. There are also dog teeth wipes that you can use to wipe your dogs teeth off that help keep them clean. 

Finally there are some dog chews and dog dental treats that are literally made to clean your dogs teeth in a way that is enjoyable for them!

While cleaning your dogs teeth is important it is also important to make sure that you are cleaning them in a way that is not upsetting your dog. You do not want to fix one issue (i.e. poor tooth health) by creating another issue (i.e. making your dog uncomfortable or scaring them). If you are really unsure of where to start you should always contact your vet, especially if your dog has specific allergies or if they have an aversion to every other tactic. We always want what’s best for our pups and that includes the best dental care we have to offer!

Photoby Alexas Fotos

Written by Dani Forte