Dental Care

Without proper dental care, pets can develop periodontal disease, or gum disease that can progress to bone and tooth loss. The veterinarian will examine the teeth at each visit and may advise a dental cleaning while under anesthesia for the pet. Currently, the American Veterinary Dentistry Association recommends a thorough dental cleaning every six months. However, conscientious teeth cleaning at home can help improve the pet's oral health and may lengthen the interval between dental cleanings at the veterinarian's office.

A puppy's teeth will start to fall out at approximately five months of age. Around this time puppies will begin teething and want to chew on everything in sight. To keep puppies from chewing on things they are not supposed to, supply them with plenty of hard toys to chew on. There are several options of chew toys to choose from so find toys that your pet likes to chew and keep a supply of them at home. If a pet is chewing on something other than a specified chew toy do not scold the pet but redirect the action by giving a puppy the proper chew toy.

Another option to discourage chewing is a bitter spray. Available from most pet stores a bitter spray can be applied to any items that a puppy is chewing to keep the puppy from chewing them. The bitter taste of the spray will prevent a puppy from chewing on the object it has been applied to. Once puppies have gone through the teething stage they will be ready for regular dental care and maintenance.

Brushing is the best way to clean pet's teeth, but can be difficult. If a pet is not find of teeth brushing there are many other dental care related products. Dental solutions and gels are available for daily home use which might be easier for many owners. Liquid dental solutions for dental care are available at pet stores and can be given directly to pets or even mixed in with food or water.

Other dental cleaning options include mint flavored treats, bones, or other chew toys. Most mint flavored treats contain ingredients to help prevent bad breath from the inside out. Dental bones and chew toys usually come in shapes that are covered in small raised bumps or tips. When chewed the bumps act as a dental cleaner by massaging gums scraping plaque from teeth. These options are all easy alternatives to brushing a pet's teeth.