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Standard Poodles - Dental Care
The Importance of Dental Care Just as you take care of your teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease, your Standard Poodle’s teeth need dental care as well. Poodles often develop gingivitis (gum disease) as they age and it is the greatest threat to their dental health. Eighty percent of dogs show signs of dental disease by the age of three. Dogs generally don’t develop cavities, but do get a brown substance around their gums called calculus. This calculus, filled with bacteria, causes the gums to recede, exposing the root. The teeth can become loose causing infection under the gums. In severe cases, the infection can travel throughout the mouth causing pharyngitis. Dental disease doesn’t just affect the mouth, if it enters the blood stream, it can cause kidney and heart disease. Fortunately, following a regular dental care routine can prevent these problems from occurring. There are tarter control biscuits and treats that help prevent tartar buildup, but these only work above the gum line. Only regular brushing can get the critical areas under the gum line. Home Care Regular home dental care plays an important part in helping your Standard Poodle to live a longer, healthier life. It can add as much a five years to your furry friend’s life! Ideally, dogs should have their teeth brushed at least twice a week. Their teeth are actually easier to brush than your own. Since their teeth are narrower and more widely spaced than human teeth, they don’t need flossed. A toothbrush can reach 90% of the areas needing brushed. How to brush your Standard Poodle's Teeth Pick a time when both you and your dog are relaxed. At first, don’t use a toothbrush. Hold your dog in a comfortable position that he likes and gently stroke the outside of his cheeks with your finger. Once he’s used to having that done, put some toothpaste on your finger and let him taste it. Use toothpaste formulated for dogs, as human toothpaste can irritate a dogs stomach. Next, place a small amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush and brush one or two teeth and the adjoining gum line in a slow circular motion. This step gets your dog used to the feel of the brush. You can also use a dog finger brush if you prefer. Practice this for several days, gradually increasing the number of teeth brushed. Be sure to reach the rear teeth where the most plaque and tartar build up. Don’t rush the process. Before your dog starts fussing, stop. You don’t want your dog to think that if he fusses you’ll stop. This will only make the procedure harder. Gradually build the time up to 30 seconds per side, concentrating mostly on the outside of the teeth. Dogs don’t get much tartar on the inside of their teeth. Although brushing your Poodle’s teeth at first can seem somewhat intimidating, it gets easier with practice and routine. Make each session a fun activity for your dog. Be sure to praise him afterwards. Soon, he’ll be looking forward to having his teeth brushed. Professional Care Your Poodle’s veterinary dental care starts at the puppy stage, evaluating him for problems related to his baby teeth, missing or extra teeth and oral development. As your Poodle ages, your vet will look for irregularities, plaque and tartar buildup, periodontal disease and oral tumors. The basic oral exam is performed while your dog is awake. A complete exam or thorough cleaning requires a short-lasting anesthetic to make your dog comfortable. These procedures should be performed at least annually on smaller dogs and two years of age for larger dogs. If your dog does require anesthesia, he will undergo a thorough exam to make sure he is healthy enough to undergo the anesthesia. This may also include blood, urine, EKG and x-rays to check for any serious conditions. Although any medical procedure may be risky, modern anesthesia is generally safe for pets. Your dog’s vital signs will be monitored while under the anesthesia to ensure its safety. X-rays may be taken of the teeth to help detect abnormalities that can’t be seen when performing a normal exam. X-rays can detect teeth that need to be extracted due to infection. The instruments the veterinarian uses to clean your Poodle’s teeth are the same type used by your own dentist. They also use a special polishing paste. Sometimes an anti-plaque substance or fluoride treatment is also used. These can help strengthen the teeth and decrease future plaque. It only takes a few minutes per day to establish a dental care routine with your Poodle. This small amount of your time and money is far less expensive than the cost of treating dental problems down the road due to neglect. Assisting in your dog’s dental care is an excellent way for you to bond with your dog. The products below will help you establish and maintain proper dental care for your Poodle:
Enzymatic Toothpaste Chicken Flavored 2.5oz Tube Return to Health ProblemsPage from Dental Care Page
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