IS YOUR DOG HEADING FOR A SET OF DENTURES?
I couldn't write my blog for five weeks because my page vanished into cyberspace and trying to find it, log in and get started just wouldn't happen. Not being a technophobe, I have had to walk through a minefield of pressing this and pressing that to make anything remotely familiar to come up on screen. Anyway, I am back now happily tapping away.
Watching a dog in the park this morning with teeth problems and a gummy smile, made me think of today's subject about canine dentures.
I had one of those imponderable thoughts: How come you never see a dog with dentures? You see a lot of gummy gap- toothed dogs but never one with fitted with a set of dentures.
Its not obligatory that your dog has to flash its pearly white gnashers for family portraits or modelling sessions. Nor do they have to do love scenes for romantic movies or make close and personal contact at business meetings but not caring for your dog's teeth can cause gum disease and problems later on in their lives.
"So ?" you ask, "what's the big problem worrying about their teeth?"
In pre-hisoric days, dogs used to tear raw meat off bones and this kept their teeth clean and healthy. But in modern times, they are fed soft food and in many cases, are forced to be vegetarian by well meaning but ignorant owners. Dogs are carnivorous by nature so convincing yourself that a diet of slush is sufficient for their needs is soooooo wrong. Yes! dogs will eat carrots and beans mixed into their food, even raw eggs, but then they start eating their own poo because they are lacking vital nutrients in their diet. They need blood and gore in their diets. A good dinosaur bone works wonders in keeping their gnashers clean and healthy. if you can't find one of those then get a nice big beef bone.
All doggy dentists will tell you that if you neglect your dog's teeth, they will get so bad that your dog will start to suffer from pain and discomfort, not to mention chronic halitosis and gum disease. Other dog's wont mind a bit meeting a dog with dragon's breath but humans coming into close contact with a stinky dog will find it
Phew enough to be objectionable. Dogs in the wild never suffered the indignity of having decayed teeth because they had a diet of raw flesh and hard bones to keep them clean and healthy. In the modern world, dogs dont get such a diet and sometimes, even when feed on hard kibble, their owners will use water to soften the pellets. Soft food makes soft teeth. Just ask a human on a diet of only soft food. After a while, they end up with dentures as the gums get too soft, recede and can't hold in the teeth.
Several problems can arise if you don't care for your dog's teeth and gums.
- Halitosis is a fancy word for stinky breath.
This is usually the first stage of dental problems. It is caused when bits
of food get stuck between your dog's teeth, and starts creating bacteria. The bacteria is what is causing the smell. Brushing
your dog's teeth will help to eliminate the problem right away, but if you ignore
it, it will only get worse as more food builds up in your dog's
mouth.
- Gingivitis occurs when plaque and tartar
build up along the gum line. This encourages the growth of bacteria, and
if left untreated, can lead to serious infection. If your dog has red,
swollen, or bleeding gums, he may have gingivitis. But don't worry,
gingivitis can be reversed if you get your dog regular dental treatments
right away. If it's left untreated, though, it can quickly lead to
periodontal disease.
- Periodontal Disease is the next step up
from gingivitis, when the area between the teeth and gums becomes
seriously infected. This really is a serious condition, and needs to be treated
right away! The infection can spread to other parts of your dog's body
through the blood stream, and it can make him very sick. This condition
is also likely very painful for your dog. His gums will be very swollen
and sensitive. It may be hard for him to chew his food, and his teeth
may even fall out. Periodontal disease warrants a trip to the vet,
pronto!
The main cause of bad teeth is peridontal disease - that's plaque to you and me. If left unchecked, your dog runs the risk of gum disease and this can have a detrimental effect on the vital organs.
Toothpaste -The best way to keep this at bay is by using a special toothpaste that you can buy from a pet shop or the vet. Don't use human toothpaste as this has an ingredient that can make the dog throw up. Some dogs will tolerate a toothbrush but most won't. I use a finger brush with some beef flavoured toothpaste. It stops the bad breath and starts to work on removing the plaque. Its not an instant remedy but used over a period of weeks, you will notice a difference.
Hard biscuits - those big hard ones from the pet shop work wonders; hide chews and the ocasional bone from the butcher are always good things to give your dog to keep their teeth clean. My dogs love oxtail bones. Some supermarkets sell them but you will have to ask your butcher if he has any. If you think this is an expensive indulgence, then make Oxtail soup first and then give the bones to your dog. They can't shatter, they are tasty and it take the dog at least half an hour to chew all the way around the bone before they lose interest in it. I usually cook them in the microwave for 10 minutes and then let the dog have a good time stripping off the meat and gnawing the bone. The gravy then goes into their bowls of food. This turns it into real gourmet- nosh- for- dogs.
My preferred method of cleaning plaque off my dog's teeth is by using one of the following products:
Homeopathy. I use Fragaria.
You can buy this in liquid form from Dene's
denes.co.uk or 6c pills from Ainsworth's Homeopathic Pharmacy,
www.ainsworths.com. or Weleda www.weleda.co.uk. One pill a day or 2 drops of the liquid in the food works wonders on their teeth. Both products are available by mail order.
Blood Tissue: another safe remedy for reducing calculus or plaque is Calc.Flor. You can get this from the chemist and the manufacturer is New Era. Two of these pillules in the food twice day helps to reduce plaque and keep the dog's breath fresh.
Plaque Off: This is powdered sea weed available from the pet shop, your vet or from internet sites such as MedicAnimal, Denes or PetMedicines and when sprinkled on their food, helps to reduce the tartar on their teeth. This product often varies in price so I sometimes stock up on sheets of Nori or Wakame seaweed from the japanese section of the supermarket. I crush it up and sprinkle it over their food. They love it (and so do I!) because it has a slightly salty taste.
By week four you should start noticing a difference in their teeth and breath. And then you never know, they might even get a modelling contact for Logic doggy toothpaste!
Until the next blog. Keep smiling!
Dawn ("~")
Here is a really chilled out and relaxed pussycat. How cute is that?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LL3OuOajpc
