How to clean your pet’s teeth
Recommended from a young age for a dog, tartar cleaning for older dogs is also suitable for pets that have celebrated many springs.
After all, no matter what stage of life your pet is in, it’s always a delight to receive that famous kiss from them. However, it’s common for the licks to have an increasingly unpleasant odor as the years go by.
The main reason for this is the presence of plaque on the dog’s teeth. Therefore, it should be removed from time to time through a procedure called periodontal therapy.
Please pay attention to more knowledge about tartar cleaning for older dogs!
Is tartar cleaning recommended for older dogs?
Despite being considered a very common procedure in veterinary clinics, canine tartar cleaning is a surgery. Since the pet cannot stay still on its own, anesthesia must be used.
Depending on your pet’s health, it can pose risks. However, according to Dr. Juliana Bondino, a veterinarian from Petz, the procedures are no riskier for older dogs.
“Today, preoperative tests such as complete blood count, kidney function, liver function, blood glucose, echocardiogram, etc., are performed to assess the pet before surgery,” explains the veterinarian.
“Older pets are not at greater risk than younger animals, as long as they are up to date with these checks,” she added.
In this regard, veterinarians point out that older pets are more prone to health changes, but this is not a rule. In any case, the most recommended type of anesthesia is inhalation, considered safer for the involved procedure.
How to clean your Pet’s teeth: Why is tartar cleaning so important?
One of the signs that a dog’s tartar cleaning is in order is bad breath. But this is not the main reason to remove plaque.
Tartar bacteria are not limited to the teeth, which are already harmful. They can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs, such as the liver or even the heart.
“Another aggravating factor is that all these bacteria present in tartar can infiltrate the gum, causing gingivitis, which later destroys the supporting structure of the tooth and leads to tooth loss,” warns Dr. Juliana. This significantly affects the dog’s diet and quality of life.
How to clean your Pet’s teeth: Is it necessary to clean the tartar of an older dog?
Although it is very important for your dog’s health, there are some situations where periodontal treatment is not recommended.
This happens whenever anesthesia poses too much risk to the dog. The same goes for diseases like heart disease and diabetes. It’s worth noting that the only qualified professional to recommend the removal or not of canine tartar is the veterinarian.
See tips for preventing tartar at all ages
There is no prescribed frequency for canine tartar cleaning at each stage of a canine’s life. It is known that the more measures are taken to prevent tartar buildup, the longer the interval between procedures.
To help you with this task, here are some tips:
- Get pets used to brushing their teeth from a young age.
- Brush your dog’s teeth daily with finger pads and dog toothpaste.
- Provide high-quality kibble to prevent early tartar formation.
- Snacks and toys to help maintain oral health are already available in stores like Petz. Try offering them to your friends.
- Additionally, you can now find other products, such as specific foams for dogs and mouth wraps.
Today you learned how to clean your Pet’s teeth, so share the content with your contacts and get to work to keep your pet’s teeth nice and clean. Enjoy the tips.
