1. Signs of Dental Pain in Dogs
2. Behavioural Changes
3. Oral Discomfort Indicator
4. Physical Symptoms
5. Importance of Pet Dental Care
6. Pet Dental Health Tips
7. Professional Pet Dental Cleaning

1. Signs of Dental Pain in Dogs

Some signs of dental pain in dogs include a loss of appetite or chewing on one side of the mouth.
Your dog may suddenly seem disinterested in food or hesitant to eat. This may be a result of dental pain making it uncomfortable to chew. Even if your dog continues eating, they may favour one side of the mouth, avoiding the painful side when chewing treats, toys, and their regular food.

2. Behavioural Changes

Your dog may indicate that something is bothering them by pawing at their mouth or face in an attempt to alleviate their discomfort. They may also become irritable or yelp in pain if you touch their face. Some dogs might even show uncharacteristic aggression if you touch near their mouth.

3. Oral Discomfort Indicators

If you notice that your dog has particularly bad breath or is drooling excessively, they may be suffering from dental pain. As with humans, dogs may have gums that become inflamed and bleed easily. It may be difficult to check if your dog is hesitant to let you touch their mouth, but that in itself is another indicator of discomfort.

4. Physical Symptoms

Aside from the appearance of red, swollen gums and increased production of saliva, you may note a buildup of tartar, or the discolouration of your dog’s teeth, both of which result from poor pet dental health and can indicate current or impending issues and pain.

5. Importance of Pet Dental Care

Most people are conscientious about their own dental care and that of their children. It’s important to apply the same standards to your dog to ensure their dental health and wellbeing. Proper pet dental cleaning can help prevent not only pain and discomfort, but also a host of other health problems such as systemic issues caused by dental infections, including heart, liver, and kidney problems.

Of course, you will also benefit from your dog having fresher breath, making interactions with them more pleasant for you.

6. Pet Dental Health Tips

Ensuring good dental health in your dog can be accomplished with a few simple tips:

• Brush their teeth regularly with a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs. Daily brushing will remove plaque and maintain good oral hygiene. Your dog may be resistant at first, but they will soon adapt and may even look forward to brushing.
• Provide dental-friendly toys that are designed to promote oral health by removing plaque and tartar buildup.
• Visit your veterinarian for regular dental checkups. Your vet will monitor your dog’s dental health to detect any potential problems before they become a major issue, allowing for early treatment.

7. Professional Pet Dental Cleaning

Although you should be caring your dog’s teeth at home, regular visits to your vet allows for a more thorough dental cleaning. Your veterinarian will be able to remove even stubborn tartar buildup that brushing alone can’t handle. Scaling and polishing will keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy, and the regular examination of their teeth allows for early detection of dental issues or abnormalities.

Recognizing dental pain in dogs is important for their health and wellbeing. If you spot changes in their behaviour or eating habits, it may be an indicator of physical discomfort that requires a visit to the vet.

Keep your dog healthy, happy, and free from dental pain by calling Langley Animal Clinic at (604)534-4813, or contacting us online today to book an appointment for their dental check up.

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Many pet owners will view their dog or cat almost as a child in the family. Unfortunately, while parents typically have an idea of which foods are best for their kids, providing fruits and vegetables while limiting candy and sugary drinks, pet owners may not know the best foods for their four-legged companions. Just as there is a difference between fast food and home-cooked meals, there are differences between the various brands of pet food. So, what are some of the best choices?

Here are our favourite pet food brands and why I recommend them.

Hill’s Prescription Diet

You may already be familiar with Hill’s Science Diet, which is a well-known brand that has been popular with pet owners for decades. While Science Diet provides formulas for healthy dogs and cats at all stages of life, from their earliest solid food through their senior years, Prescription Diet is formulated for pets that need to address a particular medical condition.

Some pets have an adverse reaction to certain foods, experiencing irritated skin, ear conditions, gastrointestinal upset, and more. For them, Hill’s offers Prescription Diet d/d, which guards against food sensitivities while helping digestion and supporting the immune system. Available in three different types of protein, it provides the nutrition that your pet needs while offering relief from itchy skin and other irritations.

Other diets from Hill’s are suitable for heavier pets that need to shed a few pounds or other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. Even when there is no particular issue causing concern, Hill’s can help in a preventative measure. Gum disease is a common issue for pets, but Hill’s t/d can help clean teeth by removing plaque and tartar, freshen breath, and promote healthy gums.

Royal Canin

Launched in France in 1968, Royal Canin works hard to keep your pet healthy through proper nutrition. Although the name might seem to imply that their food is intended exclusively for dogs, they also make high-quality formulas for cats.

Royal Canin stresses the importance of specific nutrition for specific needs and even specific breeds. For example, they provide a diet specifically for golden retrievers, with a particular shape of kibble designed to encourage chewing and a formula that supports healthy cardiac function. Pugs can enjoy a kibble designed to be easier for them to pick up with their short, square muzzle. Among their cat-breed-specific foods, you will find a diet for the Maine coon, formulated to help maintain healthy bones and joints.

Choosing the right food is important but also learning How to take Care of your pet to avoid any kind of health issues.

As with Hill’s Prescription Diet, Royal Canin offers a diet for dental care, with kibble that polishes the pet’s teeth as they chew, helping to limit plaque and tartar buildup every time they eat. Other formulas are made to assist with kidney disease, liver health, urinary health, and gastrointestinal issues. There are also options for high energy, moderate calorie, or low-fat formulas, making Royal Canin a great choice for virtually any dog or cat’s needs.

Purina

Another well-known brand, Purina has been serving the pet food market for more than 80 years. That longevity has earned them the trust and loyalty of many customers. With Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Purina can help maintain good dental health and assist with gastrointestinal issues with high digestibility promoting nutrient absorption.

Purina is a top choice for our patients with food allergies, with hydrolyzed chicken and vegetarian formulas. Hydrolysis breaks down the protein into small components allowing for improved digestibility and a reduced chance of reaction.

Purina also offers options that aid in protecting your dog or cat’s urinary health.

Excellent Choices For Pet Health

It can be hard to choose the right pet food when there are so many options available. After all, with human food, an apple or a carrot will always be, essentially, an apple or a carrot, regardless of its origin, and the consumer knows what they are buying. Pet food, with so many brands and formulas, can be a bit trickier.

If you have a new puppy knowing its behavior’s and having some tips will help understand better the actions to take.

If you have any questions about the proper diet for your dog or cat, please contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions.

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