For pets, special toothpaste has been developed that differs in composition from human ones. This is very important because it is unacceptable to use formulations containing fluorine or foaming substances for dogs. Various compounds can harm the body of an animal.
Why should a dog brush its teeth?
Pets need regular brushing just as much as humans. Although this may seem absurd at first glance. Most often, dogs get to veterinarians, the owners of which complain about the appearance of unpleasant odor from the mouth, refusal to eat, and other manifestations of an unhealthy condition of the teeth and gums.
Dogs tend to gnaw on solid food, pick up garbage during walks. But even if the animal is accustomed not to beg and not picking up everything on the street, gum disease and dental problems cannot be avoided. Heredity, small pieces of food getting stuck between the teeth, and increased acidity of saliva can lead to inflammation.
Diseased teeth and gums of a dog provoke not only the appearance of an unpleasant, sometimes fetid odor from the mouth but also a number of other problems. The animal begins to eat worse, chews food poorly, which will undoubtedly lead to problems in the digestive system. One of the important problems, for the prevention of which teeth cleaning was invented, is education dental calculus. Plaque that forms on the enamel every time after a meal, in the absence of mechanical removal, soon mineralizes. The tartar that has formed cannot be removed with conventional cleaning. It is necessary to go to a veterinary clinic and carry out ultrasonic cleaning from tartar under the influence of anesthesia.
To avoid such complications, it is necessary to manually carry out mechanical cleaning of the pet's teeth, at least once a week. It is best to teach your dog the required hygiene procedures from an early age.
In the initial stages, a piece of gauze is used for cleaning, then it is replaced with a soft brush worn on the finger. Only after that, you can start cleaning the surface of the animal's teeth using special brushes.
Choosing the right dentifrice is extremely important. Dog toothpaste should be free of chemicals, foaming agents, and fluoride. Therefore, human pastes are completely unsuitable for use by pets. Dog pastes are absolutely harmless when swallowed, which cannot be said about analogs in human household chemicals.
The danger of calculus is not in violation of aesthetics. Light brown mineral deposits in the upper part of the teeth have a negative effect on the condition of the oral cavity. Not timely cleaned off dental plaque and the stone formed against this background provoke the development of inflammation in the soft tissues of the tooth, causing gingivitis, stomatitis, and even caries. Against this background, loosening of the teeth often occurs and spontaneous loss may even occur.
It is noteworthy that not all dogs without exception need to brush their teeth regularly. Veterinarians are faced with patients with even white teeth, without plaque and tartar. At the same time, dog owners do not even try to teach these pets to brush their teeth. The reason for this phenomenon is not only genetics but also the style of food, the quality of drinking water
How to choose the right toothpaste?
The basic rule that every dog owner must remember is that you cannot use human pastes to clean the teeth of an animal. Various flavors and foaming agents, as well as fluorine, can disrupt the fine scent of an animal and even poison. This is especially true for fluoride, which is present even in toothpaste intended for children. In some cases, fluoride can provoke convulsions in the dog. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a product for the hygiene of the pet's oral cavity on the recommendation of a veterinarian and only in a specialized store. The selection of toothpaste for dogs is quite wide. There is even pasta with the taste and smell of meat.
The brush for cleaning canine teeth, unlike toothpaste, can be picked up in the human department. It is necessary to select a brush based on the size of the pet.
You can turn your attention to special toys that will keep the animal's oral cavity clean for longer.
When choosing a paste, you must carefully study the composition of the product. Unknown companies producing pastes, too cheap and promotional products should be questioned. There is plenty of counterfeit toothpaste these days. Therefore, it is best to pay attention to the products of well-known companies that have earned the trust and are responsible for their quality.
It is imperative to look at the expiration date indicated on the packaging or tube of dog paste. An expired product cannot be used, since any violation in the composition can lead to poisoning of the animal, sometimes very serious. In appearance, the paste should not contain lumps, its color should be uniform, and the consistency should be moderately thick. Toothpaste stored in irregularities should be excluded from use.
Can I make toothpaste for my dog myself?
The compositions of the quality toothpaste produced for dogs contain such substances as:
purified water for dissolving solid components;
the glycerin that retains moisture and imparts viscosity to the paste;
silicon dioxide and calcium diphosphate - soft abrasive;
sodium bicarbonate - abrasive and whitening effect;
sodium triphosphate - allows you to remove plaque;
sodium hexametaphosphate - reduces the process of calculus formation.
In the composition of tooth-cleaning toothpaste in dogs, there is also a mass of flavorings that make it possible to interest the animal. But truly safe toothpaste can be made at home as well. To do this, you need to take purified water and natural clay. These will be the main components. Sage oil or natural honey can act as auxiliary substances (if the animal does not have an allergic reaction ). Prepare the pasta as follows:
take 50 grams of clay;
a teaspoon of honey;
a few drops of sage essential oil;
water.
To achieve a whitening effect, you can add 1 teaspoon sea salt. You need to take exclusively pure, edible sea salt, and not the one that is intended for taking a bath. The ingredients are mixed to form a paste and plaque is cleaned. You can store homemade toothpaste for no longer than two weeks.
Veterinary experts recommend carrying out hygienic cleaning of teeth at least once every two weeks. If the animal has a tendency to increased the formation of tartar, cleaning should be carried out more often. The reason for this tendency may be a genetic predisposition, diet, characteristics of the chemical composition of saliva.