Senior dental care is an important part of caring for your pet. As they get older, dental problems will arise as a result of plaque and tartar build up on their teeth. This can cause inflammation or infections in the mouth that may lead to other health issues if not treated. In this article we will talk about dental care for senior dogs, including what type of dental hygiene you should be practicing at home and when it might be time to see a veterinarian with regard to dental work done under anesthesia.
Symptoms of Gum Disease in Dogs
Gum disease is a common problem in senior dogs. The best way to prevent gum disease is to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, but this isn’t always possible because of mobility problems or dental issues.
If you are noticing bleeding when brushing your dog’s teeth, they may have gum disease and should be taken to the vet for treatment as soon as possible.
Here are some signs that can point out symptoms of gum disease: bad breath, excessive drooling, pawing at their mouth, red gums and/or swollen lymph glands under the chin.
You should also schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice any inflammation on the gums or tooth loss. These conditions can lead to serious health concerns down the road so it is important that you take your dog to the vet if you notice any of these symptoms.
Dental Hygiene for Senior Dogs
As mentioned before dental hygiene is very important for senior dogs, especially as they get older and dental problems arise.
The older a dog gets, the more likely they are to develop problems with their teeth. That can lead to other health issues like heart disease and kidney failure in extreme cases.
It can sometimes be difficult to brush a senior dog’s teeth because it might cause them some pain or discomfort but dental chews can be a good alternative.
Dental chews keep the dental plaque from building up on your dog’s teeth, and they also help to clean their gums by releasing chemicals which kill bacteria in the mouth.
Older teeth don’t work well like young teeth because the enamel wears down over time- that means your dog may not be able to remove plaque from his or her teeth as easily.
Tooth decay is common in seniors due to reduced saliva production which helps keep bacteria at bay; tooth decay can lead to infections and many more serious complications.
You should also be looking for dental problems if your senior dog has a lot of dental tartar build-up, seems sluggish or is drooling excessively.
It’s important to take your pet in for dental care at least once per year and to brush their teeth on a daily basis with special attention.
To help maintain dental hygiene in the golden years, follow these five helpful tips:
1) Brush your dog’s teeth with a toothbrush or gauze pad (or even an old washcloth) once every day.
2) Feed him dry food instead of wet food so he doesn’t have access to leftover bits on his tongue that could cause tooth decay over time.
3) If he does eat wet food, feed him two to three small meals per day instead of one large meal.
Note: Wet foods should be offered to senior dogs in limited quantities because they can lead to dental decay and periodontal disease as your pet ages.
4) Use dental chews or dental wipes – these help keep the plaque off your dog’s teeth, which decreases tartar buildup and helps prevent gum diseases like gingivitis. Dental chews must be supervised at all times when used with a harnessed pet (tugging may cause choking). They are not recommended for pets that have any difficulty chewing/swallowing food normally or those who do not feed from bowls on the ground without assistance .
5) The decision whether or not to anesthetize your dog for dental work needs to be made on a case by case basis. If your veterinarian deems it necessary, they might use general anesthesia or sedation to place dental implants and/or extract teeth under controlled conditions.
The Senior Dog Anesthesia Procedure: What You Need To Know
If you have noticed any of these symptoms or if your veterinarian has recommended dental work under anesthesia for your senior pet, it is important that you know what to expect during this procedure before going into surgery. Dogs normally receive IV fluids as well as medications to reduce anxiety and pain before being put under general anesthesia; surgical masks are typically placed over their faces while inhaling anesthetic gas through them so that oxygen transfer will not occur until after they go under. This can be uncomfortable for your pet, but the procedure should not take more than 15 minutes or so. They will then come after coming out of anesthesia and you may want to provide them with a warm compress on their neck in order to make sure they are comfortable as they wake up.
If dental work is necessary it’s important that you know how much pain medication your dog is going to need afterwards since this differs between pets. We recommend speaking with your veterinarian about what would be best for any dental procedures before scheduling an appointment if possible; they can also advise you on post-op care (e.g., dietary considerations) which might help prevent dental problems from occurring again down the road. If dental issues continue we may have additional dental work done on your pet in the future.
Non-anesthetic Dental Cleaning for Senior Dogs
Non-anesthetic dental cleaning can be done at home by the pet’s family members or professional groomers, which reduces stress levels for both the pet and their owners because they are less likely to become agitated with a stranger handling them during this process.
The use of these new products also helps reduce stress levels as well because they contain natural ingredients like chamomile, peppermint and dental plaque inhibitors. The dental plaque inhibitors also help improve dental hygiene because they are designed to reduce the amount of bacteria in your dog’s mouth which causes dental problems like gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Non-anesthetic dental cleanings can be done by anyone, but it is important that you use caution when choosing an appropriate tool for dental brushing.
Some dental tools are designed for human use and can be too harsh on the sensitive tissues in your dog’s mouth if used improperly; others may have bristles that are not soft enough to clean effectively or might even cause gum damage so make sure you consult with a veterinarian before making any purchases.
The Dental Cleaning Process
You should first soak your dog’s dental brush in water before using it; this will help to get rid of the bacteria that are on the bristles. Next, mix dental cleaning paste with a small amount of warm water or mouthwash and apply a thin layer onto your pet’s teeth – you can also use toothpaste if preferred but make sure it is designed for pets.
Don’t forget to brush your dog’s teeth twice a week at the very least and you can also use dental treats or dental chews as an additional way of cleaning their mouth when they are not in danger from dental problems.
Another thing you should note is that the Non-anesthetic Dental Cleaning process works very well for small-medium sized dog breeds.
But if you have a large senior Dog at your home ,this non-anesthetic dental cleaning seems stressful for them.
How to Properly Brush your Senior Dog’s Teeth
Do you have a senior dog that is showing signs of tooth decay? If so, it’s important to take care of their teeth and gums. Here are 5 detailed steps on how to properly brush your senior dog’s teeth:
1) Get your supplies together before beginning the process. You will need one finger toothbrush, a gauze pad or cloth, baking soda, water, and some mouthwash (optional).
2) Rinse out the mouth with water until it runs clear. This should be done after every meal for best results.
3) Dip the gauze in water and place it into the dog’s mouth. Gently massage the upper gumline while holding onto their muzzle with one hand if needed.
4) Using your finger and gauze, rub baking soda across the teeth.
You will want to use as much pressure as you feel comfortable with while cleaning the dental surface of your dog’s tooth without causing any injury. Repeat this process until all surfaces have been cleaned properly. You can also alternate between brushing their teeth using a gauze pad or cloth for extra scrubbing power if they are not able to brush well on their own yet.
Foods for Better Dental Health in Senior Dogs
Now let’s talk about how diet plays a big role in this.
Senior dogs are more prone to tooth loss, gum disease, and plaque buildup due to the natural aging process or dietary changes such as weaning off dry food. To help your pup enjoy an oral care routine that will keep them happy and healthy for years to come, here are five diets for better dental health in senior dogs.
1) Raw Diet
A raw diet is ideal for older dogs because it contains no grain products which cause plaque formation on teeth (especially those with weaker jaws). Raw feeding also reduces the risk of harmful bacteria from processed foods getting into the bloodstream and causing severe dental disease.
Raw feeders should also consider adding fresh vegetables to their dog’s diet for added dental benefits, such as carrots which will help promote healthy gums when chewed on regularly.
A raw food diet is an excellent way to ensure your pup doesn’t lose any more teeth than necessary!
2) Green Beans
These vegetables are low in calories and high in dental benefits, such as calcium which helps to strengthen teeth. They will help promote healthy gums when chewed on regularly.
Green beans should be included at least twice a week for optimal dental health.
It’s important to note that while these veggies do provide dental benefits, they don’t have the same dental benefits as raw feeding.
This is why you should also consider adding a raw diet to their routine for optimal dental health and strong teeth!
Conclusion
Dental health is important for all dogs, but especially so when your dog has reached senior status. If you’re looking to improve their oral care and see other improvements in the quality of their life, then take a look at our tips below. We hope these will help you stay on top of dental hygiene–and maybe even get some more years out of your furry friend!
