Time to Brush
Periodontitis is the most common disorder in dogs, the good news is that it’s entirely preventable. Periodontitis has been shown to play a role in health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It really is more than just bad breath.
Dental chews won’t address the problems, proper preventative tooth care by you and regular cleaning by your vet will keep gum disease at bay. The consistency of the dog food and chewing on hard bones won’t eliminate the threat, but food quality will help. Dogs fed a good quality food are more likely to have strong immune systems and therefore less likely to develop periodontal disease. Head and mouth shapes can play a role, but our Doodles don’t have this to worry about. Any jaw that is over crowded will be more prone to gum disease. For instance, a Bulldog or a greyhound would have the greater chance, without proper care, of developing periodontics.
Begin brushing when your doodle is a young puppy with your finger dipped in chicken broth. Gradually move up to a doggie brush with doggie toothpaste Even a terry cloth towel over your finger works well and some dogs will tolerate it better than a brush. For good protection, brush at least three times a week. Make sure you only use toothpaste made for dogs, it’s made for them to swallow.
The first indication of periodontal disease is bad breath – thankfully there are other indications because Winston’s breath is horrid after he finishes a meal of Wild Boar by Taste of the Wild. Because dogs instinctively hide mouth pain, you probably won’t notice them wincing.
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