Are You Brushing Your Dog's Teeth?

Do you ever wonder thinking about brushing your dogs teeth?  Its important to keep an eye on a dogs oral

Healthy Mouth, Happy Pet

health for long term healthy teeth and gums.  Most dogs start to show gum disease around age four if that properly taken care of.  It's important to give a dog regular home check-ups and here are some steps to follow...

1.   Start by smelling the dogs breath.  Yes, its not going to particularly fresh smelling but this is normal.  If it seems that the breath is really offensive then it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian.  Make sure to watch for any vomiting, excessive drinking and urinating or loss of appetite.

2.  Its ideal to lift the dogs lips once a week to check it teeth and gums.  Make sure the gums are pink and not swollen.  Red or white gums can be a sign of an infection that will need to be treat by a veterinarian. 

3.   Its important to look for certain signs of oral disease such as bad breath, inflamed gums, loose teeth, broken teeth, excessive drooling or a cyst under the tongue.  Its important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible if any of these signs occur.

4.   Its important to check around the dogs gum line.  Excess plaque and tartar build up can make gum recede resulting in possible tooth loss. If it seems there is a lot of build up around the gum line, then its time for a visit to the dentist for a professional cleaning.

5.  Chewing bones are a great purchase for a dogs oral health.  While dogs chew it massages the gums helping to remove any unwanted plaque or bacteria.

Its important to be proactive with a dogs oral health to keep a dog in great general health.  Infections in the mouth may eventually spread causing other unwanted problems.  Make sure to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian if anything seems suspicious.  Great oral health will keep a pup on a great path of general health. 

Marietta veterinarian +Julian Peckich DVM would be happy to examine your dog's mouth to check the health of the teeth and gums.  Dr. Peckich is a licensed veterinarian in Marietta, GA welcoming new patients.