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As Fido dutifully leaps up upon Aunty Mavis and slobbers all over her, you might notice that Aunt Mavis begins to turn an interesting shade of puce. She may begin to waft her hand in front of her face as Fido pants energetically at her nose. What all this may indicate is that Fido may issues with his oral hygiene.

A dog will be prone to the same teeth and mouth problems as a human, with the same terrible consequences to their over-all health. Periodontal disease, which is caused by a build up of tartar around the gum line, will lead to infections that can enter the blood stream and go on to affect major organs like the heart and the liver. Just as a human should to keep the teeth clean, so does Fido!

Feeding Fido the correct style of food will go a long way in preventing the tartar trouble in the first place. Dry dog food in the form of kibbles rather than the soft meaty canned variety is best. Also anything hard to chew will aid in breaking down any existing tartar, although a more serious condition would require a professional descaling treatment from the vet. Specific dental chews are commercially available, as are doggy flossing products, but failing that a good old meaty bone should do the trick. Unfortunately chewing may not always be effective for the front incisors; and chewing something twice the size of you is not always an option for Fidos of a small persuasion. It’s time to reach for the paste and brush.

Teeth cleaning should happen 2 to 3 times a week. This procedure might be perceived hazardous and probably traumatic for the both of you. It’s best to get Fido used to the probing of his mouth from a young age. Then he won’t be quite so startled when you approach him with a brush loaded with paste. It is not advisable to use human tooth paste as its foaming will encourage Fido to swallow it, leading to problems in his gut. Fortunately the vet can supply suitably meaty flavours that are Fido-friendly. As for the cleaning implement any tooth brush which is soft should do the trick. Although there are brushes which will fit on your finger, for easy tackling of those hard to reach places. If you’re flush and want to pamper pooch even an electric tooth brush can be used.

Tags: Pets

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