How to Care for Your Dog’s Hygiene

Posted by Jeanne on February 3, 2009

Washing your dog is important, but not as important as some people think.  Healthy dogs actually don’t need to be washed all that often, but humans prefer to bathe them so that they have a more pleasing smell and appearance.  Doggie bath time is a good time to spend with the dog, however.  Although most of them don’t like to be washed, they will appreciate the contact and attention that they receive from their owners during a bath.  It is also a good time to perform some other necessary “dog maintenance” such as cleaning the ears, checking for ticks and fleas, and brushing the teeth.  Since many dogs do not like to sit still for any of these activities, it can be a good idea to do them all at once.

Brushing Dogs’ Teeth

Brushing your dogs’ teeth is just good dental hygiene.  Most vets recommend that it be done at least twice a week to ensure your dog maintains healthy teeth and gums.  If you’ve not been doing this (and, unfortunately, many people don’t) it’s never too late to start.  The dog should have its own toothbrush and special toothpaste designed for dogs.  Make sure you brush the back teeth in small circles, the same way you would your own, and brush up and down the length of the “pointy” canine teeth.  Dog toothpaste is made to have a pleasing taste (for the dog, don’t try it yourself) and this should make the dog willing to let you perform this activity.

Checking for Ticks & Fleas

Ticks are nasty little arachnids (they’re eight-legged creatures like spiders, and therefore are not insects) that will latch onto your dog’s skin and make its blood their meal ticket.  They are most common in wooded areas, but your dog should be checked for them regularly because they can carry a number of diseases.  The best place to look for these bugs in under the collar or on the dog’s underbelly, buried in the fur.  If found they can be removed with tweezers.

Fleas can be found in the same places, under the fur.  The presence of fleas can be betrayed by the sight of their droppings on the dog’s coat.  They look like flecks of pepper.  The fleas themselves look like bits of brown rice.  They’re about an eighth of an inch long.  They can’t simply be picked off of the dog like ticks can, but finding them will let you know its time to start the dog on a program to control and eliminate the insects.

Cleaning the Ears

Pet supply stores sell special solutions for cleansing a dog’s ears.  Dogs can easily get ear mites, small insects which live in the ears and feed of the waxy secretions there.  Over time the bodies of these short-lived creatures build up and form a black, dirty substance.  Using a cotton swab dipped in a bit of this solution, gently clean the inner ear.  It may be difficult to hold the dog still for this procedure, but it doesn’t take long. And the result will be clean ears and the avoidance of potential infection and earaches in the dog.

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• How to Care for Your Dog’s Teeth (0)

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Washing your dog is important, but not as important as some people think.  Healthy dogs actually don’t need to be washed all that often, but humans prefer to bathe them so that they have a more pleasing smell and appearance.  Doggie bath time is a good time to spend with the dog, however.  Although most of them don’t like to be washed, they will appreciate the contact and attention that they receive from their owners during a bath.  It is also a good time to perform some other necessary “dog maintenance” such as cleaning the ears, checking for ticks and fleas, and brushing the teeth.  Since many dogs do not like to sit still for any of these activities, it can be a good idea to do them all at once.

Brushing Dogs’ Teeth

Brushing your dogs’ teeth is just good dental hygiene.  Most vets recommend that it be done at least twice a week to ensure your dog maintains healthy teeth and gums.  If you’ve not been doing this (and, unfortunately, many people don’t) it’s never too late to start.  The dog should have its own toothbrush and special toothpaste designed for dogs.  Make sure you brush the back teeth in small circles, the same way you would your own, and brush up and down the length of the “pointy” canine teeth.  Dog toothpaste is made to have a pleasing taste (for the dog, don’t try it yourself) and this should make the dog willing to let you perform this activity.

Checking for Ticks & Fleas

Ticks are nasty little arachnids (they’re eight-legged creatures like spiders, and therefore are not insects) that will latch onto your dog’s skin and make its blood their meal ticket.  They are most common in wooded areas, but your dog should be checked for them regularly because they can carry a number of diseases.  The best place to look for these bugs in under the collar or on the dog’s underbelly, buried in the fur.  If found they can be removed with tweezers.

Fleas can be found in the same places, under the fur.  The presence of fleas can be betrayed by the sight of their droppings on the dog’s coat.  They look like flecks of pepper.  The fleas themselves look like bits of brown rice.  They’re about an eighth of an inch long.  They can’t simply be picked off of the dog like ticks can, but finding them will let you know its time to start the dog on a program to control and eliminate the insects.

Cleaning the Ears

Pet supply stores sell special solutions for cleansing a dog’s ears.  Dogs can easily get ear mites, small insects which live in the ears and feed of the waxy secretions there.  Over time the bodies of these short-lived creatures build up and form a black, dirty substance.  Using a cotton swab dipped in a bit of this solution, gently clean the inner ear.  It may be difficult to hold the dog still for this procedure, but it doesn’t take long. And the result will be clean ears and the avoidance of potential infection and earaches in the dog.

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• How to Care for Your Dog’s Teeth (0)

How to Care for Your Dog’s Teeth

Posted by Jeanne on January 13, 2009

Some people don’t realize that dental hygiene is as important for dogs as it is for human beings.  Just like in people, dogs’ teeth can gather plaque after eating.  When plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar.  As tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease.  This goes on in the mouths of dogs just like it does in people.  You brush your teeth every day, probably three times.  What does your dog do?

Teeth Brushing for Doggies

Veterinarians recommend that dog owners brush their dog’s teeth at least twice a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum.  Most pet supply stores carry specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for dogs.  Remember that a dog’s sense of taste and smell is far more acute than that of a human and the zesty, tingly, mint taste of toothpastes for people will be extremely awful to a dog.  Try brushing Rover’s teeth with Crest just once and it will likely be the last time he lets you anywhere near him with a toothbrush.  Use the specially designed doggie toothpaste.

Dental Chew

Some people don’t have the time or patience to brush their dogs’ teeth on a regular basis.  If you’re one of these, you’ll want to care for Chopper’s choppers in another way.  A dog’s natural tendency to chew is a built-in dental care mechanism.  Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service.  There’s no substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth, but if you can’t do that, make sure he gets some sort of crunchy dog biscuit on a regular basis.

Mouth Diseases in Dogs

Dogs that do not receive proper dental care and do not have access to crunchy teeth cleaning foods run the risk of several types of mouth disease.  These can be as mild as gingivitis (a gum disease that results in swollen, inflamed gums) and as serious as a bacterial infection that can spread through the dog’s bloodstream causing damage to vital organs.  You owe it to yourself and your dog to take care of his teeth.

Doggie Dentistry

Dental services are available for dogs, just like they are for people.  A dog’s teeth can be filled, capped, and extracted if necessary, just like a human’s.  The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for your dog’s teeth.  If you can avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort for your furry friend, you should do so.  Preventative doggie dental care can save you money as well.  Doggie dental procedures can be quite costly.

Related posts

• How to Care for Your Dog’s Hygiene (0)

-->

Some people don’t realize that dental hygiene is as important for dogs as it is for human beings.  Just like in people, dogs’ teeth can gather plaque after eating.  When plaque builds up and hardens it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar.  As tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease.  This goes on in the mouths of dogs just like it does in people.  You brush your teeth every day, probably three times.  What does your dog do?

Teeth Brushing for Doggies

Veterinarians recommend that dog owners brush their dog’s teeth at least twice a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum.  Most pet supply stores carry specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for dogs.  Remember that a dog’s sense of taste and smell is far more acute than that of a human and the zesty, tingly, mint taste of toothpastes for people will be extremely awful to a dog.  Try brushing Rover’s teeth with Crest just once and it will likely be the last time he lets you anywhere near him with a toothbrush.  Use the specially designed doggie toothpaste.

Dental Chew

Some people don’t have the time or patience to brush their dogs’ teeth on a regular basis.  If you’re one of these, you’ll want to care for Chopper’s choppers in another way.  A dog’s natural tendency to chew is a built-in dental care mechanism.  Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service.  There’s no substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth, but if you can’t do that, make sure he gets some sort of crunchy dog biscuit on a regular basis.

Mouth Diseases in Dogs

Dogs that do not receive proper dental care and do not have access to crunchy teeth cleaning foods run the risk of several types of mouth disease.  These can be as mild as gingivitis (a gum disease that results in swollen, inflamed gums) and as serious as a bacterial infection that can spread through the dog’s bloodstream causing damage to vital organs.  You owe it to yourself and your dog to take care of his teeth.

Doggie Dentistry

Dental services are available for dogs, just like they are for people.  A dog’s teeth can be filled, capped, and extracted if necessary, just like a human’s.  The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for your dog’s teeth.  If you can avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort for your furry friend, you should do so.  Preventative doggie dental care can save you money as well.  Doggie dental procedures can be quite costly.

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• How to Care for Your Dog’s Hygiene (0)