Canine Oral Health Care: What To Know About Your Dog’s Teeth
Dog Teeth Facts
Just like humans, dogs also have two sets of teeth. They start coming through around their third or fourth week of life. Each dog has 14 teeth in their lower jaw and 14 teeth in their upper jaw. Later in life, they will develop 42 permanent teeth. Dogs have 22 teeth on the bottom and 20 teeth on the top. Generally speaking, these will grow in at around four months of age.
Signs Of Dental Issues
One important thing to know about your dog’s oral health is that your dog will rarely shows signs of pain if they have a cavity or a sore tooth. In some rare cases, you may notice extremely bad breath on your dog, and this could be a sign of tooth decay. But other than this, as a rule, your dog will not whimper or wince because of tooth pain.
On the other hand, there are some signs and symptoms that you can look for if you suspect that your dog might have a dental problem. If they vocalize when they eat or yawn, this could be a sign that something is going on in their mouth. Similarly, red or bleeding gums are a sure red flag that something is wrong. If you notice blood on a chew toy that they are gnawing on, this is a negative sign as well.
Finally, if they tend to only chew their food on one side of their mouth or if their saliva is bloody or ropey, this could be a sign of trouble. Naturally, rotated, broken, loose or discolored teeth are also signs that they are decaying and going bad.
How To Take Care Of Your Dog’s Teeth
In order to take optimal care of your dog and their dental health, bring your dog in for a physical and oral examination at least once per year. You should also be brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis. You can get dog toothpaste and a dog toothbrush at your local vegetarian’s office or at a dog pet supply store. Lastly, consider giving your dog dental chews to help clean out the spaces between and to remove plaque build up.
Contact Pocopson Veterinary Station
To learn more about taking care of your dog’s teeth or to get a general checkup for your dog, which includes a look inside their mouth, give Pocopson Veterinary Station a call today at (610) 793-3200. We offer numerous services to keep your dog happy and healthy. We look forward to working with you!