Dog Teeth Cleaning Tips

http://www.cactuscanyon.com/dog-teethcleaning.htm There are many reasons why cleaning your dog's teeth are important. One of the most obvious reasons for keeping your dog's teeth clean is the pearly white smile every dog owner loves to see. However, there are plenty of other reasons why cleaning dog teeth is important.

Just like in humans, keeping dog teeth clean is important for health reasons. Tartar buildup on teeth can lead to infections. As the gums bleed, the bacteria in the mouth have direct access to the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can migrate to other parts of the body, including organs. Once they infect the various organs, their byproducts act as poison to the organs. This can be very dangerous to dogs, causing illness and sometimes even death. Remember that with respect to tartar buildup on your dog's teeth, it is far easier to prevent the buildup than it is to remove it once it occurs. Often times, vets are very concerned about the buildup of tartar and suggest a process called scaling in order to clean dog teeth.

Scaling involves general anesthetics. Dog owners should always remember that general anesthetics with dogs are far more dangerous than with humans. There is a high rate of mortality associated with general anesthetics in dogs. Only under the most necessary conditions should general anesthetics be used. Always consult your vet and ask him specific questions about this before allowing your dog to undergo the procedure. Once again, it's far easier to keep the tartar from building up than it is to remove it once it occurs. There are many gels and toothpastes available on the market which aid in this process. It may be difficult at first to keep your dog on board with the idea of brushing his or her teeth, but with some patience and good dog psychology, it is possible to have your dog cooperate and allow daily cleaning.

Once the tartar is removed, cleaning only three or four times per month is really all that is required to maintain healthy teeth. If the tartar buildup is severe, daily brushings, if not twice daily brushings, may also be necessary for several months in order to remove the tartar. Remember also it's important to brush your dog's teeth at a time when food and water can be removed for 30 minutes to an hour afterwards. The gel and toothpaste have a lingering effect for dissolving the tartar, and it's important to keep the dog's mouth and teeth in contact with the gel for as long as possible. Cleaning your dogs teeth is not the most glamorous aspect of owning your dog, but it is very important for maintaining his or her overall health.

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Pets & Animals

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