Dog Dental Care: Is Your Dog At Risk for Tooth Decay?

Dog dental care could save you thousands of dollars especially when you own a dog breed like a Pomeranian that’s prone to tooth decay so you may want to be proactive about your dog’s oral care which might save your dog from pain and tooth loss that affects your dog’s ability to chew his food, play with his toys and enjoy a long healthy life.

This news brief gives you the top 10 breeds of dogs that are at higher risk of dental problems so you can take better care of your dog.

Dog Dental Care: Top 10 Dog Breeds at High Risk for Dental Problems

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – This breed experiences broken, crooked and crowded teeth called malocclusion that results in a high risk for periodontal disease.
2. Dachshund – Your Dachshund’s dental problems may start with bad breath and swelling or redness of your dog’s gums.  The best prevention plan is to brush your dog’s teeth 3 or 4 times a week as soon as you bring your dog home.
3. Havanese – This breed is also prone to malocclusion, or crowded teeth, and may have sharp teeth that are at risk of fractures. Dog dental care is critical to control the plaque on your Havanese puppy’s teeth.
4. Maltese –  This tiny breed suffers because your dog’s mouth is too small to fit 42 adult teeth and many of these teeth will either fall out or need to be pulled.  Watch for gum inflammation and consider dental cleanings as a strategy to keep your dog’s mouth healthy.
5. Papillon – The small jaw bones in this breed cause problems that result in loss of teeth due to gingivitis.  Once again, brushing your Papillon’s teeth is critical to your dog’s overall health.
6. Pomeranian – Your Pomeranian takes longer to change teeth than other breeds which causes a problem with retained teeth and overcrowding.  Other dog dental care issues for Pomeranians are bad breath, sores on your dog’s tongue or gums and weak or broken teeth.  Consult with your vet for the best dental care for your Pomeranian when he’s a puppy for the best results.
7. Shetland Sheepdog – Also known as a Sheltie, your dog may be prone to bad breath due to tartar build up and decayed teeth that often leads to kidney failure or other medical problems.  An early start of dental care at home will help to keep your Sheltie’s mouth healthy.
8. Standard Poodle – Poodles tend to lose teeth by the age of 3 due to lack of proper dental care.  Another genetic challenge is that poodles tend to have misaligned teeth so it’s a good idea to consult your vet about your poodle’s dog dental care when he’s a puppy.
9. Toy Poodle – Your tiny Toy Poodle has similar challenges with dental health as a Standard Poodle besides the fact that his jaw is too small for all his adult teeth.  The importance of home dog dental maintenance to reduce plaque build up is very important to save your Toy Poodle’s teeth and keep your dog healthy.
10. Yorkshire Terrier – This adorable breed tends to have excessive tarter build up, early tooth loss and gum disease.  Your Yorkshire Terrier is also prone to digestive problems and infections so it’s critical to brush your dog’s teeth at least 3 to 4 times a week.

Dog Dental Care:  6 Common Risks for Your Dog’s Teeth

1. Hard objects – Your dog’s dental health is at high risk if your dog chews on hard objects like cow hooves or if your dog catches hard objects in his mouth.
2. Rawhide strips and treats – These products may be treated with enzymes that increase saliva which results in tartar build up on your dog’s teeth.  Rawhide bones and chips might cause tooth fractures and are a risk for choking in dogs.
3. Periodontal disease – Accumulation of bacterial plaque causes your dog’s immune system to respond with an inflammatory infection called gingivitis.  Bacteria can be released into your dog’s bloodstream through damaged gum tissue that can lead to heart, joint, kidney and liver disease which is why dog dental care is so critical to your dog’s overall health.
4. Malocclusion – Crooked and crowded teeth are a primary risk for your dog’s periodontal problems because your dog’s teeth are difficult to keep clean and are also susceptible to damage from hard objects. 
5. Soft food – Your dog’s oral health is at risk when you give your dog too much soft food that causes plaque on your dog’s gums.  Hard biscuits and dry food help with dog dental care to reduce plaque on your dog’s gums, however you need to brush your dog’s teeth to reduce bacterial plaque.
6. Diseases – Gum disease is often linked to disorders like diabetes, strokes and heart disease in dogs.  Some puppies are also at risk from medications and viruses.

Note: Your dog’s dental health is an indicator of your dog’s poor general health.  You should bring your dog to your vet whenever you discover any periodontal health issues from bad breath to gingivitis so you can be proactive about your dog’s health.

This news brief gives you the top dog breeds that have the most dental health risks so you are aware of periodontal issues in order for you to take better care of your dog.  Another option to help with dog dental care costs is to to look at dog insurance as a possible strategy to cover other dog health expenses.

Share this article with your friends and family so they are informed about the importance of home dental care for their dog.  You can always depend on the best dog health strategies from Dog Health News.

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