Tuesday, November 27, 2012

It's All About Teeth!

I know everyone wants their pet to have healthy teeth.
Small breed dogs are particularly prone to dental troubles.
  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association approximately 75% of pets over the age of three will experience signs of periodontal disease.
Open Wide!

Greenies has a dental awareness campaign known as "Flip the Lip".
They have detailed instructions  on evaluating your dog's or cat's dental health.  I will list the steps here, there is a lot more detail on the Greenies FaceBook page in the Flip the Lip section.
  1. Choose the right time.
  2. Conduct a facial exam.
  3. Inspect the mouth.
  4. Reward your dog.   (My favorite part!)
  5. Follow up on your concerns.
  6. Remember daily dental care.  (It helps if you can find a toothpaste flavor your dog likes)
This topic is very pertinent to my family this month.  Earlier this month, Baron and I saw my vet for a checkup.  Baron is 5 years old, I will be 5 years old in March.  My teeth are great!  I must be in the other 25%.  Thank you Greenies!
My best buddy Baron, on the other hand, needed a cleaning.  He must be part of the 75%.  He had about 2 mm of tartar on his molars.  On a large dog 2 mm doesn't seem like much, but on a small dog, that is almost half the tooth.
I learned that Maltese are probably the number one breed known for having dental trouble.  They have sensitive gums.  I suppose that is why Baron only eats cookies after you break them into pieces for him.  I will happily munch away on a Great Dane sized cookie if I am allowed to.  BOL!
I am munching on a Nutro Tartar Control biscuit.


Well, Baron had his teeth cleaned yesterday.  More bad news, 2 molars were loose.  The vet removed the loose molars during his dental cleaning.   Now my mom is telling his mom she really needs to brush his teeth.  What a hypocrite!  She doesn't brush my teeth!  Okay, I don't let her brush my teeth. BOL!    This year I did get my teeth brushed by a groomer a couple of times.  What my mom does do is give me a Greenie dental chew treat at night, and she fills the grooves with doggy toothpaste.    Baron's mom also gives him dental chews (not always Greenies), without toothpaste on them.  I suspect, because of his breed, that Baron needs extra help maintaining his teeth.  Another point in my favor is I chew bully sticks a lot more than Baron does, and no one breaks my cookies into pieces for me.   Sometimes I get a Nutro Tartar Control biscuit instead of a regular cookie.
Pomeranians are prone to dental disease like most small breeds (under 20 pounds).  One reason small breeds are more prone to dental disease is frequently the teeth are crowded or misaligned.  Considering that I have an under bite, either I am very lucky, or the combination of Greenies with toothpaste, bully sticks, crunchy cookies, and Nutro food are responsible for my healthy smile.  

How do you maintain your healthy smile?   How old were you when you had your first dental cleaning?


Disclaimer: "This post was written by a Nutro Knowledge Network member and sponsored by the Nutro Company."

12 comments:

  1. Oh PEPPER. Once again, me and mommy are agog with your beauty!! We know it's boring to read that over and over but whow nelly...you are gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you Katie! You are gorgeous too!
      Hugs,
      Pepper

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  2. Gizmo is 4 now and he has never had a dental cleaning. He does eat Greenies and hard biscuits and I have brushed his teeth and used dental wipes on him. His teeth are in good shape now and I do hope to keep them that way. I have a question about bully sticks...Gizmo has never had one of those...Do you recommend them Pepper?

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  3. Hi Gizmo, High paw on the great teeth! I do recommend Bully sticks. I love them, I have been chewing them since I got my adult teeth. They are much safer than rawhide. The buffalo ones are less fattening. I like free range ones, they don't smell as strong as the cheap ones. A 12 inch bully usually last me for a week, sometimes two weeks. I eat the 6 inch ones too fast.
    Hugs,
    Pepper

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  4. I don't allow my teeth to be brushed, so when I need it the vet will have to do it.

    Nubbin wiggles,
    Oskar

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    1. BOL!! You sound like me Oskar! I become as wiggly as a kitty cat when Mom tries to brush mine.
      Hugs,
      Pepper

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  5. I won't sit still fur tooth brushing. I had a groomer that used to do it, but the one we have now doesn't. So, it's the vet. I've only had it done once, I think when I was five. Mommy gives us something from Ark Naturals that are sort of like Greenies with toothpaste inside. We love them!

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    1. BOL!! Another wiggly pup! My regular groomer doesn't brush them, but the groomer at the vet's office will brush them. I haven't had a cleaning, just brushed with me awake.
      Hugs,
      Pepper

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  6. You are lucky Pepper! I have met many a pomeranian with only a few of their teefers left. Sounds like your mom does a good job taking care of them.

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  7. Mommy has doggie toothbrush and ones that go on the finger she does try to brush our teeth but not daily and lately she has been us greenies at night. I lucked out when I had my teeth cleaned a few months ago none were pulled but my sister Sabrina a Schnauzer had a couple pulled.

    Pepper you are so fortunate with your teeth.

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    1. Hi AJ, I remember you saying Sabrina needed some teeth pulled. I fight the finger brush too! Mom has better luck with a dental wipe. But I still fight it! BOL!!
      Hugs,
      Pepper

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