Home Health Care
Routine home care should be started as soon as possible. Depending on the size of your dog, the infant, children’s or adult brushes with soft bristles can be used. Try to make brushing an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Patience and time are the two mainstays. It takes an average of two months for your pet to get used to having its’ teeth brushed, however, the health rewards are well worth it.

There are good toothpastes available for the dog and cat as well as liquid gum conditioners. Consult with our veterinarians for the one best suited for your pet. Human toothpastes, salt, and baking soda should not he used, Toothpastes’ foaming action is irritating, and all of these substances can cause illness if swallowed.

Deciduous (temporary) or “milk” teeth begin to appear when a puppy is about four weeks of age and are lost gradually between 14 and 30 weeks of age. During this time, puppies may eat slightly less and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide toys made especially for dogs are a good investment to help prevent household damage during this time.

Occasionally, a puppy will retain some deciduous teeth after his permanent teeth have appeared. This may damage the soft tissues of the mouth and may even accelerate wear of permanent teeth. Consult with one of our veterinarians to determine whether or not removal is necessary.

Veterinary Dental Treatments

If your pet has existing periodontal disease, the only way to clean the teeth is under general anesthetic. The teeth are explored with a probe to map the packets (a 6-point exam on every tooth), then hand and /or ultrasonic scaling of the crown (exposed tooth) is done followed by a thorough cleaning below the gum line. The tartar you see on the tooth is not where the main disease process occurs! Polishing removes the microscopic scratches on the teeth that cleaning causes. If this step is avoided, the tartar can actually build up faster. A medicated solution is flushed below the gum line to remove debris and reduce bacteria. Fluoride is then applied to the teeth.

Dental problems can be minimized or even prevented through regular annual cleaning and scaling under anesthesia, done right here at Bingle Veterinary Clinic. Thorough oral hygiene by our professional team takes anywhere from 35 minutes to over 2 hours depending on the severity of the mouth problem.

Try to avoid giving your dog bones and cow hooves to chew on. These often cause tooth fractures requiring root canals or extractions. Nylar bones are preferable. They are available at our veterinary clinic, or at most pet supply stores. Additionally, dry, crunchy foods can be helpful in keeping teeth clean. As the dog chews, particles from the dry food scrape against the teeth, acting like a toothbrush to help remove plaque.