Dogs
Teeth Cleaning for Dogs
Teeth cleaning for dogs is very important to help maintain the dog's dental hygiene. Home dog teeth cleaning care will help minimize the need to visit the vet for professional teeth cleaning. Dental health problems of dogs is a serious health issue that should not be ignored. A vet may clean your dog's teeth under general anesthesia. And the professional dog teeth cleaning cost is an expensive procedure. So the best thing to do is start a home teeth cleaning for dog routine. Once you and the dog get the hang of it, it won't be so complicated or a difficult process.
Teeth Cleaning for Dogs Dogs can develop a number of dental diseases like plaque, tartar and 'periodontal' diseases. You can carry out regular teeth cleaning to help minimize the occurrence of these dental diseases and the cost of teeth cleaning by a vet.
Brushing the dog's teeth should be an enjoyable process for both you and your dog. You should begin slowly and shower your dog with praises as you brush his teeth. You can buy a pet dog toothpaste that contain different active ingredients. These toothpastes should contain chlorhexidine, hexametaphosphate, or zinc gluconate.
You need to buy brushes, sponges and pads according to the size of the dog's mouth, health of the gums and your ability to clean them. Toothbrushes that are ultra soft and designed specially for the pets should be brought. You can even try finger toothbrushes that fit over your finger for easier grip. Dental sponges have a small sponge on one end of the handle and are softer than the brushes. Dental pads are useful in removing the teeth and gum debris but lack the mechanical action of the brushes.
Professional Teeth Cleaning The first step involves getting your dog used to the taste of the toothpaste. You need to allow the dog to lick the toothpaste off your fingertips. When he does that, you should shower him with praises. If he does not like the taste, try a new toothpaste. You should carry on with the toothpaste testing till you find the right flavor your dog likes.
Now, it's time to get your dog used to something placed against his teeth and gums. You should apply a small amount of paste on your finger and rub it against his front large canine teeth. This will help both of you get the hang of brushing. Make sure you continue to praise him.
Once your dog is used to the toothpaste and having something against his gums, you need to start using a toothbrush, sponge or pad. You should allow him to get used to the texture of the brush by licking on the toothpaste on the brush. Continue to praise him and make sure he readily licks the toothpaste off the brush for a week or so.
We now move on to the next level of actual brushing of the teeth. You need to speak to your dog in a happy tone and keep praising him till your finish. You need to lift his upper lip very gently and then place the brush at a 45 degrees angle to gum line. Now you need to move the brush back and forth very gently. Once the dog allows you to have several teeth brushed, you should gradually increase the number of teeth you brush. You should make brushing look like a fun game, so that the dog looks forward to teeth cleaning for dogs sessions with anticipation. You should try and carry out teeth cleaning daily. If you cannot do it daily, make sure you carry it out often to help minimize plaque buildup. You can always take your dogs for professional teeth cleaning once in a while to make sure the canine dental health remains in an optimum condition.
Average Cost of Teeth Cleaning When you bring your dog to a vet for teeth cleaning, he will first advice you to consider a blood work for CBC and chemistry profile. This will help determine any infections or anemia the dog may be suffering, for that is not detectable physically. This will also help the vet understand that all the internal organs are functioning normally. This is because the vet will put your dog under anesthesia before he begins to clean the dog's teeth.
The doctor will put your dog under a general anesthesia. You should not hesitate to ask the doctor which anesthesia will be safe for your pet and any complications that may arise if you own an older dog. Be free to ask and clear your doubts. Once under anesthesia, the vet will conduct a full oral examination. This will help him detect any loose or broken, missing teeth. This examination will also help detect any oral tumors or lesions.
Then the veterinary technician will scale out all the tarter and plaque from the teeth. Then he will polish the teeth and may apply a product called OraVet. This product helps seal the teeth and prevent tartar buildup. Once the technician is done with his job, the doctor will extract any loose teeth present. The vet may even recommend a root canal, if required. The vet may prescribe some pain medications in case of extraction and root canal carried out. Or he may give some antibiotics for gum diseases or infections of the teeth.
Teeth Cleaning without Anesthesia Many owners opt for teeth cleaning for dogs without anesthesia. But this can lead to many dog health problems like gum diseases and tooth loss. The teeth cleaning without anesthesia will help make the tooth surfaces look bright and clean. The problems that your dog may have too face are as follows:
- The gum lines become tender or sensitive.
- The back of the dog teeth won't be cleaned as the dog will resist it.
- The dog teeth may be cleaned by an untrained personnel. You should keep in mind that in America and Canada, teeth cleaning should be carried out only by a vet or a vet technician under supervision of the vet.
- The dog is at a greater risk of injury due to teeth cleaning without anesthesia.
As you can see, teeth cleaning without anesthesia is cheaper, it may lead to many dental issues. You should only allow a trained professional to clean your dogs teeth.
Average Cost of Teeth Cleaning The dog teeth cleaning cost can vary between $70 and $350. This depends on the pre-anesthetic blood work and the amount of plaque build up. It also depends on any periodontal diseases, if any. The average cost of teeth cleaning for veterinary pet insurance is $292. Daily brushing of the dog will cost about $30 to $60 per year depending on the dog's size.
Dental care for dogs is one of the utmost important aspects of dog grooming. Dog teeth are just like human's and you should care for them the way you care for your own teeth. I hope this article helps you begin a regular dental routine for your dog.
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Dogs