Do you know how many teeth there are in your dog’s mouth? More than there are in our mouths. Can you imagine how hard it would be to get close to someone if we had 42 unbrushed teeth in our mouths? Humans have 32 teeth in their mouths and brush their teeth regularly. Dogs have ten more teeth in their mouths and getting a toothbrush in there can be a real challenge. No wonder my eyes water when I get down and lay with my dog on the ground.
Brushing your pet’s teeth can help slow the buildup of tartar. We sell two sizes of toothbrushes and also a handy finger brush for smaller mouths. Pet toothpaste comes in a few tasty (for them) flavours – chicken, seafood or malt. If you are uncertain on how to brush your pet’s teeth, your veterinarian or veterinary technician can show you the proper way. There are also a few good YouTube tutorials available.
Every day, plaque builds up on our dog’s teeth, and eventually, plaque hardens into tartar which is difficult to remove from their teeth. Tartar can cause periodontal disease. A buildup of bacteria or an infection in your dog’s mouth may be the cause of their bad breath. Are you able to flip your pet lip and see what may be going on?
Other signs of periodontal disease to be aware of are excessive drooling, when eating your pet drops food from their mouth, or not wanting to eat hard kibble. If your dog has any of these symptoms, we recommended giving us a call at 250-743-3223 to book an appointment with your veterinarian so they can assess your pet’s mouth. A dental estimate can be created to plan your finances, and your pet can be scheduled for the appropriate dental work.
We all try our best to make new year’s resolutions at the beginning of each year. Our resolution for this year is to resolve the smell looming from our dog’s mouth (or your cat’s mouth). Come in and pick up a pet toothbrush and toothpaste today. There are ways to help this concern with our furry friends, but we do not recommend breath mints.
Written by: Meghan Seal, Inventory Specialist/Senior Receptionist
