Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Hounds getting teeth cleaned today

Sorry for the long time between posts. It seems that time goes by so fast. I haven't decided whether to continue the blog or not since I don't seem to be able to devote as much time to it as I would like. Maybe I will just change the topic a bit to include more about all the dogs that are here. Our number of dogs is now 8 Labradors and 2 greyhounds. That seems so much easier than having around 15 that we used to have.

The greyhounds are getting their teeth cleaned today. Greyhounds seem to have particular problems with periodontal disease, often showing signs as early as two years of age. Symptoms of periodontal disease include:
Greyhound Dental Care
  • Bad breath
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Yellow or brown crust near the gum line
  • Loose or missing teeth
  • Discomfort when the mouth or gums are touched
  • Possible decreased appetite or weight loss due to difficultly in chewing
Our dogs don't have teeth that look like those shown. But we have begun noticing some bad breath from them. So it was time to get their teeth cleaned. This generally becomes an annual thing for greyhounds. Because they are sensitive to anesthesia, it is best to have a vet who is familiar with the breed do the cleaning.

Here are some of the things that owners can do for any breed that will insure good dental care:
  • brush their teeth daily - even twice daily if you find that makes a difference. Experiment with different doggie toothpastes to see if your dog does better on a particular type.
  • get some anti-gingivitis mouthwash and wipe it along the gumline daily.
  • provide safe chew toys that are made especially for helping with dental hygiene.
  • learn how to scale the teeth. It isn't hard to do.
  • feed only dry food
  • check teeth regularly and keep up with appointments to get the teeth cleaned.