By
Alisha Smith
Your
dogs have teeth too which means you are going to have to make sure you
take care of their teeth just as well as you would your own. In the case
of humans, the most common dental problem is cavities. With all of the
sugary food that we tend to eat, this isn't really surprising. Although
dogs do get cavities, they aren't as prone to it as we are. Instead,
when it comes to dogs the most common problem is gum disease.
Since dogs don't typically brush after eating like humans do, they tend to get a buildup of plaque on their teeth. Over time, this tartar can harden and what you end up with is tartar. The tartar which is present in dogs is similar to that in humans in that it causes inflamed and painful gums too. Just as in humans, this condition is call gingivitis and an extremely obvious sign of it in both humans and dogs is bad breath. Another unfortunate problem caused by this disease is that because it is painful, it can make it extremely difficult for your dog to chew, thus resulting in a lessened appetite which in turn hampers your dog from getting the nutrition they need. In the extreme cases, the inflammation and the bacterial build up can affect vital organs which can include the heart and the kidneys.
As a human you probably pay a lot of attention to your teeth.
When it comes to human teeth you have to make sure they are cleaned
frequently and brushed at least three times a day or after meals. You
also have to take great care in making sure that you aren't putting them
constantly to the test by eating too many sugary foods. It is also
important for you to make sure that you get them checked regularly by
your dentist to ensure that you replace teeth which are eroded or make
sure that they are growing properly. We do all of these things to ensure
that we don't have trouble eating our food and at the same time, do not
end up with bad breath.
Your
dogs have teeth too which means you are going to have to make sure you
take care of their teeth just as well as you would your own. In the case
of humans, the most common dental problem is cavities. With all of the
sugary food that we tend to eat, this isn't really surprising. Although
dogs do get cavities, they aren't as prone to it as we are. Instead,
when it comes to dogs the most common problem is gum disease.
Since dogs don't typically brush after eating like humans do, they tend to get a buildup of plaque on their teeth. Over time, this tartar can harden and what you end up with is tartar. The tartar which is present in dogs is similar to that in humans in that it causes inflamed and painful gums too. Just as in humans, this condition is call gingivitis and an extremely obvious sign of it in both humans and dogs is bad breath. Another unfortunate problem caused by this disease is that because it is painful, it can make it extremely difficult for your dog to chew, thus resulting in a lessened appetite which in turn hampers your dog from getting the nutrition they need. In the extreme cases, the inflammation and the bacterial build up can affect vital organs which can include the heart and the kidneys.
In order to keep
these problems at bay, it is essential for you to take your dog to the
vet regularly and have them checked. At the same time, it is also
important to do your own housekeeping as far as your dog's teeth are
concerned. It is important for you to have a toothbrush for your dog.
The toothbrush must be small and soft otherwise you may cause a further
inflammation of the gums. It is also important that you buy pet friendly
toothpaste and if you are unsure where you should be getting that, make
sure to talk to your vet about it. Chances are your vet will have a
supply.
We often take our own mouths for granted because we don't
feel the immediate effects of not taking care of our teeth. When it
comes to our pets this can prove to be a costly mistake and can even
shorten the lifespan of our furry friends. Take care of your dog's teeth
to ensure that you are giving him the best care possible.
