Care of your dog's teeth

When a dog's teeth aren't properly cared for he will have bad breath, possible cavities, and probably gum disease.

A dog that eats canned food will tend to have more dental problems than one that eats dry food. The moist dogfood tends to stick to the teeth and help form tartar.

There are dog toothbrushes and dog toothpaste available, but I've always thought they were a bit silly. If I want to clean a dog's teeth I put a damp washcloth over my finger and rub the teeth. Just as effective (or nearly so) and much cheaper and simpler.

Dogs love to chew, and if they have enough things to chew they'll be able to keep their teeth clean without any other help from you.

There are lots of toys and bones (nylabone, greenies, kongs) marketed for helping to clean a dog's teeth. My Starlight has beautiful shiny white teeth and she keeps them that way by chewing on branches she pulls from my bushes. She likes to bring them into the living room and chew them into tiny splinters, but that's another story. I don't mind. She's having a good time and not doing any harm. It's easy enough to pick up the pieces when she's finished.

It's a good idea to look into a dog's mouth occasionally, to see if there are any broken or cracked teeth, or any significant placque, or sores anywhere in there. Your dog may have serious problems in his mouth and not know how to tell you about them.

It's a good idea to have a regular time, say the first of each month, when you check the teeth and the nails, and the ears. That way you'll be able to catch any problem before it gets too serious.