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Dogs and their Teeth
You may have heard the saying that a dog’s mouth is like her hands. She uses them to explore, touch, hold, and carry things in addition to its digestive functions. On top of all of those tasks, a dog’s mouth is a natural first aid kit. Her saliva is infused with antibacterial properties, which is often why dogs lick cuts and scrapes. Now think of your hands. With all of the exploration, touching, holding, and carrying they do, would you go a day without washing them? Of course not! But many dog moms and dads have the same dental care habits for their dogs as they do for their own flossing – they do it a few times a year, tops, then when the doctor asks they put on an honest face and swear to a regular schedule. Swear no more! Keep reading to get acquainted with your pooch’s teeth and understand why it is so vital to keep a regular cleaning schedule.
How many teeth does my dog have? If she has them all and is fully grown, 42. Adult dogs have 20 teeth in their upper jaw and 22 in the lower one. Babies are born without teeth (you can breathe a sigh of relief on behalf of all of the mommy dogs out there), but grow a total of 28 baby teeth by about eight weeks and start to lose them by 13 weeks. How am I supposed to know if something is wrong with my dog’s teeth? She can’t talk, you know! Here’s where you get down and dirty. Your dog should be accustomed to letting you touch and examine her body. If not, start by having her sit and running your hands over her back, legs, belly, tail, and head. Lift her paws and examine them, then do the same with her ears. Once she is used to you performing these impromptu exams, try looking at her mouth. Hold her lower jaw with one hand and use it to pull her lower lip below the gum line. Lift her upper lip with your other hand and check both her teeth and gums for discoloration, cracks, tenderness, and tartar. Now put on your Bravery Hat and use the thumb of your bottom hand and forefinger of your top hand to open her mouth. Check that her tongue is a healthy pink color without cuts or irritation, the inner edges of teeth and gums according to the list above, and that the roof of her mouth is free of discoloration or inflammation. Take a quick whiff of her breath. If it smells odd or extremely bad – let’s remember that she’s a dog and that it’s difficult to have minty-fresh breath whilst sniffing fellow dogs’ rear-ends – contact your veterinarian. Other Signs Something May be Wrong They may not speak, but dogs often give plenty of warning if something isn’t working or feeling quite the way they think it should. Pay close attention to your dog’s body language and actions. If she’s doing any of the following, she may not be in top dental health:
If you notice any of these signs, try sticking to a good dental regimen for a week. If she’s still having trouble, get her to the vet for a dental exam. |
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