Here is the latest article I wrote for Japanese newspaper. I write a monthly column for 2 Japanese newspapers. My hygienist translates them for me to Japanese. This is dedicated for all my friends who have dogs and love their dogs!
February was National Pet Dental Health Month. We all love our dogs and their wet, sloppy kisses, but honestly, sometimes their breath is enough to knock over an elephant!
About 80% of all dogs have some type of gum disease by age 3 and smaller dogs tend to be more prone to this than bigger dogs. Taking your dog to the vet to have their teeth cleaned may involve putting them to sleep and in addition to being pricey, can have serious consequences for certain dogs. If your dog is not healthy, or if your dog is very small, or if your dog has had bad reactions to the drugs, it may be inappropriate or even dangerous for your dog to be put to sleep for a simple teeth cleaning. It's easier and less expensive to keep dental problems even before they even start. Here are 6 tips for keeping your dog's breath from knocking you over every time they greet you in the morning with doggie lick and a "Hhh-hhh-hhh-how are you!"
Tooth Brushing: You can find doggie toothbrushes and doggie toothpaste in most pet supplies stores. The doggie toothpaste doesn't contain fluoride and is usually meat flavored as it is a flavor appealing to most dogs. The younger you start with your dog, the better they will cooperate.
Crunchy Foods: Most dogs will prefer moist dog food or human foods over boring dry crunchy dog food but the dry kibble will not stick to your dog's teeth as much. The crunching and scrapping will tend to clean the plaque of your dog's teeth as well.
Healthy Treats: Like with people, eating healthy treats such as fresh apples or raw carrots will clean your dog's teeth. Commercial dental treats for dogs will also work to help prevent future dental problems. "Greenies" are a big brand marketed towards preventing doggie bad breath.
Dental Rinses: While it may be hard to teach your dog to gargle with mouthwash, there are dental rinses to squirt in their mouths, add to their water or wipe onto their teeth.
Avoid Very Hard Chew Toys: Some dogs really love to gnaw hard bones or toys as this is a natural behavior for dogs but dogs can break their teeth chewing on very hard things.
Good Dental Toys: There are many good dental dog toys available on the market. Dog toys that have ropes will actually clean or floss their teeth. Puzzle toys may also have bumps or nubs on them that help clean your dog's teeth as they are gnawing on them to get the treat inside.
My own dog is a 4 lb Pomeranian who thinks she is a 90 lb Chow Chow. When I got her, the owner told me that Poms are prone to gum disease. "Not to worry," I thought, "I'm a dentist, I can take care of that!" The next day, I went to the pet store and bought a doggie toothbrush and tube of doggie toothpaste. I set her on the closed toilet seat and put some toothpaste on the toothbrush. She eyed me suspiciously as I approached her. She sniffed the toothpaste with interest. I opened her mouth but even before I could get the toothbrush in, she exploded in an angry ball of fur and teeth. Thank goodness I've learned to become quick at avoiding teeth closing down on my fingers but I almost lost an arm! After I caught my breath and gave her an angry stare, I approached her again. One must never give up, they say. I showed her the toothbrush and she lifted her lips to show me her teeth. Now that I have a good look at her teeth from a distance, I could clearly see that her teeth are fine the way they are. We came to a joint decision that she'll keep her teeth the way they are and I'll keep my digits. I'll stick with the top 5 list as mentioned above, (...,minus the teeth brushing tip!)
Five years later, she loves raw carrots, apples, and "Greenie" dental treats. When I ask her, "Do you want a Greenie?" she'll do all her tricks in rapid succession in anticipation of gettting the treat. I still have my fingers and the doggie toothbrush has long been retired and is now being used to clean around the faucets in my bathroom.
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