The first thing I do in the morning after I drag myself out of bed is brush my teeth. Dental hygiene is very important to me and my family. So I got to thinking about how important my teeth are, and how important my dog’s teeth should be.
I was outside sitting in the backyard watching my 3 year old swing on his swing set. Out of nowhere, my two Basset Hounds come running up to me and start licking my face (gross). I really don’t like when they do this anyway, but that day both of them had bad breath that was worse than normal. So I looked around the yard to see if they had caught something and were eating it. The search was unsuccessful, until I looked in both of their mouths and they had some plaque and food build up along their gums.
This made me think about the last two years I have had my dogs, and why I have never taken their teeth into consideration other that the food I feed them. This bad breath situation needed to come to a stop, and I needed to do something to take better care of their teeth. So I went to my trusty Valley Vet Supply Direct Pet Super Store catalog, and found several items that could help with my situation.
In the catalog there were several Items that caught my eye. The one that I tried first was the Petrodex Combo Kit. This kit included a toothbrush with two heads, a finger brush, and toothpaste. This was a very interesting experience. After just one brushing I could see a difference in the plaque. This was a good way to get rid of some of the food build up they had, also. The toothpaste is poultry flavored so it was easy to get them to open their mouths to brush.
There was another product that I tried, and it was the Advanced Oral Care Liquid Tartar Remover made by Nylabone. This was so much easier to use when brushing was not an option. This could help with that stubborn dog that will not let you brush. It is a liquid that you pour into their water and as they drink it, it helps wash out the tartar and food build up. I also noticed, after using this product, that my dog’s breath was much better. The Basset Hounds really didn't mind it in their water, and they drank every last drop.
The third product that I tried, and would have to say was the Bassets’ favorites, was the Greenies. These come in several different kinds for all types of dogs. They think it’s a treat, and I know its helping to keep their teeth clean. I give them one several times a week. This is so simple, and they have a great taste. When your dog chews on them, their teeth sink in, and this action helps clean the plaque off of their teeth. I love this way of cleaning for the simple fact that it is easy, and my dogs love the taste.
Who would have thought that doggie dental had so many options? I now know that my dogs need clean teeth just as much as I do. Valley Vet Supply has a wide variety of options to help keep your dog’s teeth clean. Good luck! Rachael
