February is Dental Health month for pets, so I thought I’d pass on a few tips for our “canine” children.
Did you know that maintaining your dog’s oral health is as valuable as to their overall health as it is to ours? Regularly brushing their teeth, a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys go a long way towards keeping their mouth healthy. Many doggies show signs of gum disease by the time they’re 4 years old. Bad breath is often the first sign of a problem.
At your next veterinary visit, ask him/her to let you know how your pooches teeth and gums look. H/She should look for bad breath, excessive drooling, inflamed gums, tumors in the gums, cysts under tongue and loose teeth.
Once a week, you, the owner, should sit with your dog facing you. Lift his lips and examine his gums and teeth. The gums should be pink, not white or red, and should show no signs of swelling. His teeth should be clean without any brownish tartar.
Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for canines or a clean piece of gauze to wrap around your finger. Buy doggie toothpaste. DO NOT use human toothpaste– ever–
as it can irritate a dogs stomach. Do not use fluoride on puppies under 6 months as it can interfere with enamel formation.
Brush his teeth every morning or night. That, and a healthy diet, will ensure your pet is healthy for a long time. And make his doggie breath a lot fresher 
