A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through his mouth, by tasting and chewing on things. But, he also uses his mouth is as his hands. He carries and pulls with it as well as defends himself. Therefore healthy teeth and gums are very important.
A dog's teeth need the same care as a human's. Therefore, it's important that you take care of his teeth as you would your own. The best way to do this, of course, is to brush them, which should be done at least twice a week. There are special tooth brushes designed to fit in a dog's mouth as well as special chicken flavored tooth paste to make the task easier. But sometimes, brushing your dog's teeth can be a real hassle. For instance, there are some dogs that will flee at the sight of a toothbrush and it is very had to coax a seventy pound Rottweiler from under the bed.
So, how can you get Bruno the Rottweiler to care for his teeth? Here are several alternatives to toothbrushing.
Dog Food
Dog food is a major cause of tooth decay. Believe it or not, canned dog food, though it tastes real good, is not good for Bruno's teeth. Therefore, you should not feed it to him all the time; once in awhile, as a treat, or on a special occasion is fine. Instead, Bruno should eat a good quality hard dry dog food. This will keep his teeth and gums exercised, as well as cleaned.
Bones
Of course, Bruno needs more than just dry dog food to keep his teeth white and his gums healthy. Chewing on things, such as sticks, the furniture and golf balls, though it is good exercise for his gums, is not very healthy, especially if he were to swallow the wrong thing. Or, in the case of the furniture, just chewing on it is not a good idea on his part. So, you can provide him with a bone, either rawhide or real, as a diversion. These come in various sizes to fit your dog. Bruno will want a larger one, while a smaller dog would necessarily need a smaller bone. Either way, he can exercise and clean his teeth without fear of choking.
Enzymatic Rawhide Chips
You can try some of the rawhide chips that are infused with enzymes designed to kill your dog's bad breath as well as remove tartar and plaque. However, the taste leaves something to be desired and Bruno may not like them, thus leaving them untouched. If he does not use them, they won't work.
Regular Visits to the Veterinarian
Of course, the veterinarian is the best person to keep Bruno's teeth in perfect health. As much as he will protest, regular visits insure good oral and physical health. Your dog's veterinarian will provide him the proper care that will keep him healthy and happy for years to come.
Arlene Mason is a freelance writer living outside of Dallas, Texas with her husband and two dogs. She has written and published the following e-books: "Understanding Low-Carb Dieting", "On the Edge" and "Stepping Stones" which are all available at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareMany pet owners don't like using a leash, for a... Read More
A major part of a horse's diet is hay or... Read More
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
Are you just starting to research the BARF diet for... Read More
There are three important litter box considerations to account for... Read More
They may seem to be bold explorers - sniffing at... Read More
Our Charlie's dog health was a very important issue to... Read More
Has your pet recently been coughing, eating less, or being... Read More
As you likely know already, horses have at least 10... Read More
He will be there by your side, as your loving... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
In most cases you should not be too concerned about... Read More
The teaching and training of dog tricks while not a... Read More
We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More
Do you make a lot of trips to the vet's... Read More
If you are lucky enough to get a 7-week-old puppy,... Read More
Is your dog or cat tormented by ear infections? Do... Read More
"Your cat has feline diabetes." If this is your vet's... Read More
It happens all too often. A family or cat friend... Read More
When I carried him home, he was this tiny little... Read More
A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through... Read More
Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to... Read More
Every month I am approached by dog owners of my... Read More
Settling a puppy into a new home successful is often... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..The American Humane Society estimated that last year alone; fifteen... Read More
Does the idea of trimming your dog's nails send chills... Read More
Did you know that more than one million north americans... Read More
"Doggy breath" ? that unpleasant odor emanating from the mouths... Read More
Every month I am approached by dog owners of my... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter.... Read More
One of the reasons I strongly encourage horse owners to... Read More
It is important to choose a sugar glider breeder carefully.... Read More
Westie Grooming ? When your west highland white terrier becomes... Read More
Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More
1. Using tranquilizers.This is illegal in many states but other... Read More
Some people have horses they don't dare tie. Why? Because... Read More
'Help, my cat is pregnant and I don't know what... Read More
Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
Many people want to make sure their family pet has... Read More
Whether you intend to show your Westie, or keep him... Read More
Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they... Read More
How can my child benefit from having a pet?1.Social skills... Read More
While your friends and family are amazed that you're raising... Read More
As there are certain health issues that affect only the... Read More
With ancestors who were a breed of tenacious terriers, most... Read More
Flea control can be a very hard thing to do... Read More
Fleas have plagued dogs, cats, and their owners since time... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
Pet |