National Puppy Day is celebrated on 23rd March, we love seeing so many puppies in our newsfeeds!
Most vets will agree that one of the first things you should seriously consider is looking after your puppy’s teeth. By starting to look after your puppy’s teeth, they become used to a toothbrush, especially if you make it a positive experience for them. Something a lot of dog owners wish they started with their puppies!
Why?
Puppies teeth start falling out at around 12 weeks old and are replaced by their 42 adult teeth at around 6 months old. Their adult teeth should be nurtured as like humans, they are the last set they get. Have you ever wondered why as humans we are told to brush our teeth twice a day? It’s because plaque bacteria start forming at approximately 12 hours. The same goes for your pets. Plaque is invisible to the naked eye but is a clearly sticky substance you can sometimes feel if you run your tongue across your teeth. This plaque if left, begins to build and calcify into tartar or the brown deposits you can see on teeth. This is usually accompanied by pink/red gums as the body begins to fight off the ‘foreign bodies’ aka the tartar. In extreme circumstances this leads to mouth infections which can spread to other organs in the body as well as tooth loss.
What can I do?
The great news is that oral hygiene problems are preventable, and we recommend having an oral hygiene routine in place. Firstly as a puppy owner, try to get them used to having their mouth handled and to slowly accept a toothbrush. By using lots of verbal praise (and sometimes a treat or two) you can really instil positive routines that will help them for the rest of their lives. We also recommend using ProDen PlaqueOff® products that will help prevent plaque bacteria building up in the mouth. The best option for puppy owners is ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder as you can begin using it just before your puppy’s baby teeth start falling out to give the product time to start working. As your puppy gets older, and they have all their adult teeth you can then incorporate ProDen PlaqueOff® Dental Bites and Bones into their oral hygiene routine – just use one of the products daily!
Happy National Puppy Day!