If you feed your dog plenty of RAW MEATY BONES then your dog will not only love you for it but will have a healthy set of teeth and no bad smells.
If you do not, your dog will require regular attention like de-scaling and removal of its teeth under a general anaesthetic.
Watch for hard, yellow build-up on the sides of your dog’s molars.
This build-up is called plaque. If left untreated it calcifies into tartar.
Tartar is like a shell coating the teeth.
If left untreated the teeth decay, become loose, painful and smelly.
Inspect your dogs mouth and smell the dogs breath regularly.
If you do notice the teeth require cleaning, take your dog to your Vet for a consultation and an appointment will be made for the dog to have ultrasonic de-scaling, if it is required.
This has to be done with the dog under a general anesthetic. If there are any loose teeth they will also be removed.
If there are any other minor problems your dog has, then while the dog is asleep the Vet can have a good look at them.
So, mention to the Vet anything else that is bothering you or your dog.
Chewing tennis balls and toys often leads to the teeth wearing down faster than normal.
So, watch for wearing if your adult dog continually chews.
TEETHING
The first teeth (temporary milk teeth) appear between 2-8wks of age.
The permanent teeth appear around 3 to 7 months of age.
There are several things you can do, both to ease the pain and control the chewing.
Make some chicken soup (low sodium variety or make it yourself) ice cubes and give them to the puppy.
Give the pup toys or dried hide toys to chew on.
Soak a clean rag in water, wring it out and then freeze it (rolling it up helps) and give it to your puppy to chew on.
Soften the kibble a bit with water.
Discourage biting on your arm or hand for comfort.
Puppies lose their teeth in a distinct pattern:
* First the small front teeth come out.
* Then the premolars just behind the canines.
* Then the molars in the back come out (and you’ll see adult molars behind those erupting as well).
* Finally the canine teeth come out.
Sometimes the adult canines erupt before the baby canines have come out.
This is called a retained milk tooth or “Supernumerary teeth”.
They remain firmly alongside each other allowing food to get between them causing plaque, gum inflammation and pain.
The only treatment is a general anesthetic and removal of the milk teeth.
This is often done when the animal is sterilised (neutered) or is having other surgery.
During teething, some discomfort, including bleeding gums is to be expected. Your puppy will want to chew more during this period of time, but it may also be too painful to do so (hence the suggestions above).
You will probably find few if any of the teeth your puppy loses, as puppies typically swallow them.
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