Corcoran Pet Care Center
7569 County Rd. 116
Corcoran, MN 55340
763.420.3930
Fax: 763.420.5954
Dental Care for your Dog
Dental problems can range from mild tartar build-up on the teeth to severe infection that can cause tooth loss and general health concerns. Since all dogs will have some degree of dental disease in their lives, the key is to prevent dental disease from causing serious health problems. Those problems can be as simple as bad breath, or as serious as tooth loss and even infection that can affect your pet’s entire body, especially the heart.
Preventing Dental Problems
The best time to begin prevention is when your pet is young, by daily hand cleaning of the teeth. Even though that may sound absurd, if you train your pup to tolerate hand cleaning, and train yourself to do it faithfully; you can prevent serious dental problems, expensive dental procedures, and potentially harmful anesthesia as your pet ages. The technique is easy and takes very little time each day. It requires a small finger brush, or soft cloth, and a special paste. The brushes and the toothpaste are available for purchase at Corcoran Pet Care. Ask the doctor, receptionist or technician how it is done. If brushing is not an option, we carry a CET oral rinse that can provide effective plaque control, but don’t say no to brushing until you try it!
Bones, Treats and Chews
If you have a dog that likes to chew, there are several good products that can help keep the teeth clean naturally. Man-made products include Nylabones, which we carry at Corcoran Pet Care Center. They work well and are generally safe. Unfortunately, not all dogs find them interesting. Be sure to dispose of them if your dog chews them into sharp daggers or they begin to splinter.
Natural items include rawhides and bones. Look for rawhides that are knotted and not so small that your dog could swallow them easily. Also, be prepared to throw the bones away when the knots come undone. Rawhide chips are okay, but don't let your dog swallow too many of them. They should be given out sparingly. Other products such as pig's ears are easily chewed up, and not of much benefit.
Bones are excellent for chewing, but you must be sure to get good quality bones processed for dogs. They should be large enough so that they can't be swallowed, and they should not splinter when chewed. If the bones do splinter, throw them away. We have real femur bones and knucklebones available at Corcoran Pet Care, which are a good choice for most dogs.
Prescription Diet t/d food can be used as a treat for tartar control. C.E.T. chews are also a good choice. Greenies are another edible treat that can be helpful. Be sure to buy the correct size for your pet and be sure that your pet actually chews them up. Do not allow your pet to bite them in half and swallow them! All of these treats are available at Corcoran Pet Care.
Other biscuits and treats that say "Tartar Control" are usually no more beneficial than hard food, and hard food by itself will not control tartar.
The severity of your pet's dental problems is partly determined by genetics, but you can overcome that with some effort!