German Shepherd Dog Gum and Dental Care: Many homeowners don’t realize How important it is to take care of your German Shepherd’s teeth. The importance of this care increases with the age of the dog. The ideal to ensure good dental health for our dog is start when they are puppies or in case of adopt a german shepherd adult from the first moment of adoption.
Since in general dogs do not like to have their mouths touched, the ideal is to get them used to it when they are small. To get your dog used to having his mouth and teeth examined, it is best to start touching the dog’s mouth when he is a puppy or as soon as we have adopted him. This way you will avoid future problems for the vet when he needs to examine your dog’s mouth.
German Shepherd Dog Gum and Dental Care
You can start by touching the outside of his mouth, opening his mouth, gently touching his jaw and teeth. You can repeat this exercise daily until the dog is used to being examined that way.
Make this a regular part of your interactions with your dog to ensure he stays calm when the vet is due for a preventative dental exam.
The good dental health of the dog is essential for its general health and it is well worth this small dedication, which you can be sure will result in numerous benefits for your German Shepherd. In addition to eliminate many potential health problems, as possible diseases of the heart, kidneys and liver. Clean teeth help prolong the life of your German Shepherd.
Basic information about the dental health of dogs
Just like in humans, dog dental health has a lot to do with overall health. Infections in the mouth can spread to the heart and the rest of the body.
Keeping a dog’s mouth clean and healthy doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult.l. A well-behaved and socialized German Shepherd will sit down and let his owner brush his teeth, which is the best way to keep the dog’s mouth clean and infection-free.
A dog needs a healthy mouth because their teeth are used for much more than just eating. Below we list some of the most common dental problems in German Shepherds and in dogs in general.
Main dental problems of the German Shepherd
- Plaque and tartar: Plaque and tartar buildup are not only annoying to your dog, but can also be an indicator of cavities and even larger dental health issues. Tartar is yellow or brown stains that appear on the teeth due to the action of bacteria that convert the plaque that accumulates on the teeth after eating food into tartar.
- gingivitis: Gingivitis is a fairly common dental disease in the German Shepherd. Today, most dogs eat a diet that is considerably different from that of their ancestors. They ate many foods that helped dental hygiene. Today, if a dog is only fed canned food, he can get enough bacteria and tartar in his mouth to end up developing gingivitis. This condition inflames the gums and can cause their inflammation (periodontal disease).
- Periodontal disease: Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and teeth. The infection is within the gums and under the teeth, so you may not see any major problems when you visually examine the dog’s mouth. Advanced gingivitis can also cause acute pain in the dog.
- Pain: While German Shepherds are unlikely to whimper when in pain, being in pain can make them aggressive, especially if you try to touch their mouth. If you notice a decrease in appetite and the dog avoids drinking water, probably because he is sensitive to the colder temperature of the water, it is possible that your German Shepherd has a dental problem that causes pain.
If the dental diseases of the dog are not controlled, it may lose part of its teeth, develop ulcers in the mouth and even other types of infections.
How to take care of the teeth of the German shepherd
To avoid the main dental problems of your German Shepherd, you should make sure that he does not have bad breath, drool excessively, have discolored or inflamed gums or have visible tartar on his teeth, also have a loo on can dogs smell cancer. In the case of any of these symptoms, you should improve your dental and oral hygiene, and if it gets worse, take it to the vet.
Below we detail some actions that will help your dog maintain healthy and clean teeth.
Tooth brushing
You can use a normal toothbrush, but use a toothpaste suitable for the dog, ask the vet or a pet store. Pay special attention to the back teeth of the upper jaw, as these teeth are more prone to tartar buildup. Brush once or twice a week, or every day if necessary.
Feed your German Shepherd dry food
Dogs need something to chew crunch. The texture of dry dog food not only helps remove tartar and plaque, it also helps strengthen the jaw bones.
Rawhide or stale bread for dental care
Let him chew on some rawhide or pieces of dry, hard bread. These foods are a great way to get your dog to “brush” his teeth. Vigorous chewing will clean away leftover food particles and plaque, can help relieve jaw tension, and strengthen jaw muscles. There are even rawhide bones specifically designed to help keep your dog’s teeth clean.
Use a dog dental health spray
There are dental sprays specifically for dogs that help fight plaque buildup. Look for one that improves breath, but does not contain any type of alcohol or xylitol.
Dental care of an old German shepherd
Older German Shepherds often suffer from bad teeth and related health problems. As dogs age, their teeth begin to become more brittle and less functional. You may start to notice that your dog has lost some teeth or that some of his teeth have broken or started to decay.
Brushing your dog’s teeth is one of the best preventatives, as is giving your dog a high-quality dry food.
Always keep your dog’s teeth brushed and if you notice any problem with his teeth, take him to the vet so he can suggest a technique or product that can relieve pain and keep your dog’s mouth healthy.