Why?
Healthy dog teeth are important for the well-being of the dog, a dog uses its teeth to eat and to defend itself. Tartar and dental problems are very common in dogs, it can have various causes.
What do a dog's teeth look like?
A dog is born without teeth and molars, these only come between 3e in 12. e week then the dog gets milk teeth. After about 3 months, the milk teeth are exchanged for permanent teeth.
A dog's teeth consist of small incisors of which 6 at the bottom and 6 at the top. A dog is a carnivore and therefore uses these teeth to gnaw the meat from the bones. The sharp canines, which are 4, are used by a dog to grab and tear its prey. The 26 molars a dog has are used to cut and hold pieces of meat. There is a small empty space between the canine teeth and molars of the dog.
Every breed has the same set of teeth, but this often looks different in some breeds. This can be due to, for example, a short snout or a long snout.
What dental problems can your dog suffer from?
- Inflammation
- Wear and/or chipped teeth
- Wrong position of the teeth, for example in breeds with a jaw that is too short;
- Persistent (double) milk canines, a common problem in small breed dogs;
- Enamel damage, e.g. due to an infection or medication
- wild meat by the gums
- tumors in the mouth.
It is therefore important to regularly check your dog's mouth! We prefer to avoid these problems. Your dog can also change its behavior or eat less because of these problems.
Start with oral care
It may sound crazy, but your dog also needs to brush its teeth. Try to learn this from puppies. There are so many types tooth pastes on the market for dogs but never use 'human' toothpaste.
Step 1
Let your dog get used to a toothbrush† It is essential that you start early on this. If this goes well, reward him with a treat or a good pat on his head.
Step 2
Now it is important that the dog gets used to your fingers at its mouth. Gently lift his/her lip and try to run your fingers or the toothbrush along his/her teeth. If this goes well, you can slowly try to open the jaw. This way you can reach the top of the teeth. Do this initially with a finger brush or slowly touch the teeth with your fingers.
Step 3
If everything goes well and you have faith in each other, we can start with the real work. Start slowly with small circular movements and stop when necessary. Do this several times a week in the beginning. Pick a fixed time of the day and make it a ritual. Your four-legged friend will thank you.
Coconut oil
Dogs love coconut oil, so it's a great way to brush your teeth. Coconut oil also contains enough substances to properly protect the teeth. So if you are looking for a good healthy option and do not want to choose from the wide choice of dog toothpastes, take coconut oil.
Bones Bones Bones !
Not only does brushing your teeth help, but also the right bones or dental sticks† This does depend on the type of breed and size of the dog. Always make sure that it is not too small (so it fits completely in the mouth) but also that it is not too hard or large. A rawhide variant is often a good choice.
Succes
Good luck together and have faith in yourself and in your dog. If you still need additional guidance or have questions, please contact us contact on with our dog world. Our colleagues are happy to help you.
