http://www.care2.com/greenliving/healthy-doggie-teeth-6-tips.html
6 Tips for Healthy Doggie-Teeth
Adapted from 50 Simple Ways to Pamper Your Dog, by Arden Moore (Storey Books, 2000).
Don’t dismiss doggie breath. That odious odor could be an early warning sign of gingivitis or other dental problems. But these six simple tips will help you keep your darling doggie’s teeth their pearliest white:
1. Look inside your dog’s mouth at least twice a week and check for signs of deterioration, especially bleeding gums, pale gums, persistent foul breath, tartar buildup, decay, sores, or broken and missing teeth.
2. Provide fresh water daily. Bacteria can buildup inside bowls containing water that is more than two days old.
3. Feed your dog a raw carrot to help scrub away plaque. It’s also a good source of vitamins A and C and fiber.
4. Avoid giving your dog real bones. You’ll run the risk of splinters with sharp edges that can cut a dog’s mouth and intestinal lining.
5. To get your dog used to the brushing routine, break it down into a few steps done over a series of brushing sessions. Dip your finger into beef bouillon and then rub the finger gently over her mouth and teeth. Gradually add gauze to your finger and gently scrub the teeth in a circular motion. Finally, introduce a soft toothbrush designed for dogs and use a meat-flavored toothpaste.
6. Schedule a yearly professional dental cleaning to get rid of stubborn tartar. The vet can also look for any tooth damage and make necessary repairs.
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5 comments
add your comment »Kabin
Konteyner
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why is this inappropriate?
Actually the raw bones issue is fairly controversial, and assuming that any vet that warns against it is just trying to make money on teeth cleaning is really unwarranted. Raw bones may be *less* likely to splinter and cause injury than cooked ones, but they still can, and sometimes the reason a vet warns against it is because they've had to treat too many animals with injuries caused by bone splinters.
I know some people swear by giving their dogs bones and have never had problems with it, but other people have had problems -- different owners' experience is different.
And no, of course wild dogs don't have toothbrushes -- but wild dogs don't live nearly as long as domestic ones. Physical and behavioural traits in wild animals are largely the result of natural selection, which doesn't necessarily favour longevity. As long as an animal survives long enough to reproduce, its genes get passed on. There is no evolutionary advantage to surviving into old age -- but most of us who have dogs as pets would like them to live good long lives. So not everything in the way that wild dogs live is desirable for domestic dogs...
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Yes, raw bones are very good...it is sad that vets especially try and get people to not give their dogs raw bones, it is natures way to wipeout tartar in dogs, canines did not have toothbrushes in the wild. Vets deter people because they want you to pay for the expensive teeth cleanings. Also, the anesthesia is not good for our pups either.
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Cooked bones do splinter and can be very dangerous for animals. Raw meaty bones, however, can be a healthy addition to a dog's diet and clean their teeth as they chew. They break very differently when they are raw compared to when they are cooked because raw bones are much less brittle and sharp. Many responsible dog owners and veterinarians feed their dogs a regular diet of raw meaty bones with wonderful results.
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If your dog isn't used to you handling his mouth. Try starting when the dog is just a puppy or massaging his mouth for a few minutes before brushing. Brushing the teeth with a solution of water and baking soda works as well.
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