3 Animal Dental Treatment Tips For Your Rescue Dog
Rescuing a dog enriches your life while also being a huge responsibility. After all, you likely don't know much about your dog's background or whether it was cared for or neglected. After you adopt a rescue dog, one of the things you are now responsible for is dental care. Animal dental treatments are important for dogs because uncared-for teeth can cause pain and health issues like kidney disease. Here are three dental care tips for your rescue dog:
Start with a Cleaning and Exam
Just like with people, a dog's dental treatment starts with a cleaning and exam. Typically, dogs need to be under anesthesia for this. During the cleaning, your dog's veterinarian will remove any plaque on your dog's teeth and polish them. This will help prevent any dental issues from getting worse.
They will also thoroughly examine your dog's teeth and in some cases will even run x-rays. This is especially important with rescue dogs since their teeth are more likely to be neglected.
Be Prepared for Possible Extractions
If your dog's vet finds any broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth, they will likely need to remove them during the appointment. They will likely call you before proceeding to tell you how much it will cost and get your approval.
Dental extractions are beneficial to dogs because they remove any teeth that are causing gum disease or pain. After your dog heals from their dental treatment, it will be much more comfortable and will no longer find it painful to eat. Some dog owners are delighted to find that their dogs are happier and more energetic after dental care treatment.
Plan for Dental Care Follow-Up
In order to ensure your dog's teeth remain healthy after their dental care appointment, you will want to follow up with routine care. One great way to do this is to brush your dog's teeth at least a few days a week with a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is made in flavors dogs find appealing to make the teeth brushing process easier.
Experts also recommend that your dog receives professional teeth cleaning once a year. Doing so will help prevent your dog from having serious dental problems down the road.
Seeking appropriate animal dental treatment for your rescue dog makes you a responsible dog owner. Doing so will help your dog live a healthy, pain-free life in its new home.