Just like us, our canine friends need to have regular checkups to keep their teeth and mouths healthy. Signs of gum disease can appear as early as four years old if your dog doesn’t get proper mouth care. Besides a healthy diet, providing your pooch with plenty of toys and chews can help keep their mouth healthy.
National Pet Dental Month
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) posted a Ten Steps to Your Dog’s Dental Health article to help dog owner’s prevent and detect dental issues. We grabbed a few of their tips to help you with your dog’s dental health!
Once a week, check your dogs gums and teeth. Gums shouldn’t be red or white, just pink and they shouldn’t be swollen.
Provide your dog with plenty of dog toys and chews. Chewing helps make their teeth strong and scraps off soft tartar. A chew toy can also massage their gums.
Check your dog's breath. If their breath is extremely terrible and they seem to be eating less, drinking more water, or other behavioral changes, take them to the vet to get checked out.
Don't forget to the check out the rest of ASCPA's article for more information on keeping your dog's mouth healthy!