Dog Dental Care: Tooth Brushing Fundamentals...

Dog Dental Care: Tooth Brushing Fundamentals

Taking care of your dog's teeth such as brushing should not become a burden to you or to your dog. Instead, you should make it an enjoyable bonding time for you and your pet. Remember to take things slowly, avoid overly restraining your dog if he shows dislike in the activity. Provide praises to your dog throughout the brushing session to make him feel comfortable. Brushing sessions should also be short and positive so that your pet will learn to look forward to this kind of activity instead of dreading it.

Daily brushing of your dog’s teeth does not only provide quality bonding time but helps prevent occurrence of dental disease such as periodontal disease, the most common canine dental disease. Periodontal disease in your pet is manifested by this signs: bad breath, loose teeth, gingivitis, chattering, drooling, loss of appetite and bleeding gums.

Tooth brushing should be introduced to your pet in his early age so that he can easily accept the procedure. Preferably, brushing should be started when your pup is 8 to 12 weeks old. Ensure to have your veterinarian check your dog's teeth before starting a tooth-brushing program. If your dog has damaged teeth or dental disease, brushing may be painful and he may even bite you just to avoid the activity. Before the actual brushing, have your pet dog get used to your looking into his mouth. Praise or reward him with treats after every successful mouth check-up.

Below is a step-by-step procedure that will help you in brushing your dog’s teeth:

1. Start the session by offering your dog a taste of pet toothpaste. Pet toothpastes have a variety of flavors like poultry and malt so that your dog will like the taste. Have your dog get used to the flavor and consistency of the toothpaste. If your dog dislikes the taste of the toothpaste, try a different flavor until you find the kind that suits him. Repeat this step for a few days or until your dog looks forward to licking the paste.
2. Practice running your finger along the gums of the upper teeth with the toothpaste in your finger, and then gently rub it on one of the large teeth in the front of the mouth. Have your dog feel comfortable with having something placed against his teeth and gums. When your pet is already used to the taste of the toothpaste and the finger in his mouth, you are ready for step 3.
3. Place your dog on a comfortable surface before brushing. As much as possible, use minimal restraint on your pet to provide him the idea that you are not forcing him to do this activity.
   
4. Lift your dog’s upper lip gently and place the bristles of the toothbrush along the gum line of the upper back teeth and angle slightly up, so the bristles get under the gum line. Making small circles along the gum lines, work from back to front. Avoid brushing the entire mouth at first and make brushing sessions less than 30 seconds.
5. Once your dog accepts having several teeth brushed, gradually increase the number of teeth you are brushing. Provide an impression to your dog that you are just playing a game during brushing.
6. Always remember to provide praises and treats every successful step of brushing your dog’s teeth so that he will start to look forward to his next brushing session.
   
   
   
   
   
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Should You Have Your Dog’s Ears Cropped?

  Should You Have Your Dog’s Ears Cropped?

There are several dog breeds that regularly are seen with cropped ears; including Boxers, Schnauzers, Great Danes, and others. Thousands of young puppies are forced to endure surgery which is expensive, uncomfortable, relatively dangerous, and can be painful in the recovery phases. The amazing part is this surgery is totally unnecessary.

This practice was started centuries ago when dog fighting sports were legal and popular. The idea was that it was more humane to crop the dogs’ ears rather than have them shredded during a battle, which of course, would be more painful and have potentially worse complications. But the point is that because we no longer allow our dogs to fight for sport there is no humane and practical purpose of cropping ears. But the expensive and needless surgery continues.

We have become accustomed to seeing certain breeds with cropped ears and if we saw one with natural ears he would stand out. Even though AKC does not require cropped ears, a dog with natural ears in a ring full of crop-eared animals would most likely not stand a chance of winning. We simply expect a breed to look a certain way and when a dog doesn’t we question his bloodline and basically think he looks funny or out of place. Breeders and dog owners alike have complied with this expectation of society and therefore it is perpetuated – the cycle continues.

There are obviously numerous reasons not to crop a dog’s ears. Please see the list below:

    The surgery is unnecessary and all surgeries come with a certain amount of risk. Ear cropping is no exception to that. It simply is not justifiable.

    The surgery is usually done when the puppy is between six and ten weeks old. This is a time when the pup is emotionally fragile. Permanent damage to the puppy’s disposition can result as a reaction to the trauma of the surgery, the pain and frustration of post-operative bandaging, racking and taping.

    There can be quite a loss of blood during this surgery. The physical effect on the puppy can be very damaging.

    Ear-cropping happens about the same time that the puppy is ready to be sold. In many states the surgery must be performed by a veterinarian.  This adds to the cost the breeder must incur which means he/she will take a large cut from the profits or have to pass the cropping costs along to the buyer. And most buyers do not find puppies with bandaged heads as attractive as those without.

It’s your decision in the end. If you want your dog to look like all the others then ear cropping is probably the way to go. But please keep in mind that ear cropping is a choice, not a requirement.

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How Important Is Your Dog’s Name?

How Important Is Your Dog’s Name?

When you get a new puppy you of course have to name him or her. If the puppy is registered you will need a name for the official registration papers as well as a call name. Both names are important, but in different ways.

The registered name often begins with the name of the kennel that the dog came from. This is also a part of his show name. All registered names must be original. Although these names have a rather fancy sound to them, when you understand more about how they are given they are actually fun.

Besides the kennel name the registered names can include the name of the dam and or the sire. Any combination of ancestors along with a theme is very common. However, AKC limits the name to thirty-six characters in length, including spaces, so if the names are long it can certainly present a problem. For an extra fee the length can be extended up to fifty characters.

Registered names often have no relationship whatsoever with the call name. Call names should be rather short; two to three syllables is the recommended length. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have more than one dog the names should be different enough that the dogs can easily distinguish them. For example, naming one dog Holly and another one Molly would not be a good idea.

Many people choose to name their dogs right away; in fact, they may even have the name picked out before they ever see the dog. Other people want to keep the dog a wait or two before naming him so that they can choose a name that matches the dog’s personality. And still others prefer a name that describes the dog’s physical appearance to some degree, such as naming a big dog Bruno or a Black dog Blackie.

Originality is nice but when it comes to dogs, just like people’s names, there are certain names that are all time favorites for particular breeds or dog stereotypes. And just as with human names, dog names sometimes become popular because of a TV show, a song, an actor, a movie, a rock band, etc. Since dogs can live to be up to twenty years or longer it is suggested that the name be one that is somewhat evergreen; simply meaning that the name will have significance in the years to come, even if the namesake doesn’t.

Once you have decided on a name you should begin using it as much as possible. The goal is to find ways to get your dog to associate the name with a meaning. By using his name regularly he will quickly pick up on the fact that the name refers to him.

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