Brush up on dental care
Q ADo you have any advice when it comes to cleaning my dog’s teeth? I’m not sure I’m doing it properly.
This is an important question. It is a rare dog that has no signs of tooth problems from middle age onwards, and many young pups have issues too.
Good dental care massively improves the quality of life for dogs.
The objective is to prevent the build up of plaque that rapidly turns into tartar, then gingivitis, and ultimately leads to the loss of the tooth.
Bacterial infection is common too, and bacteria can enter the bloodstream, potentially infecting many parts of your pet’s body.
It is much easier to develop a routine of tooth brushing in young dogs, once they have their permanent teeth after about six months.
It should be done daily after the last meal and be fun.
You will need special dog toothpaste, which is beef or chicken favoured.
Start by getting the dog used to the taste by licking it off your gloved finger. Then progress to a finger toothbrush, which you use gently on the front teeth, before lifting the lips to reach the upper and lower side teeth.
Take your time and always reward your dog constantly with praise and a dental treat.
With older dogs I would recommend a check up with your vet first so that you start with a clean set of teeth that are not painful.
There are some very good videos online to show you how it’s done.
Search for “PDSA Dental Care For Dogs” or you can visit pets.webmd. com for more tips.
Q
We have a male 10-year-old chihuahua on insulin injections for diabetes. He is very active but slightly underweight, and gradually losing more. How can we get him to put on weight without upsetting his blood glucose levels?
AWell done for managing your dog’s diabetes to date. Even in diabetic people there are problems in compliance and to get good control in dogs requires a lot of attention to detail plus regular check-ups.
Measuring your dog’s weight is sensible and you should obviously continue to do so.
There are several reasons why your dog might be losing weight.
It could be that his diabetes isn’t as well controlled as you might hope. Weight loss is common in diabetic dogs, and is one of the early signs of something being amiss.
There is a blood test that gives a good idea of how well it has been controlled in the previous two to three weeks.
Assuming good diabetic control, the next step would be to investigate possible early underlying diseases that could cause weight loss.
Liver or kidney problems, for example, are not uncommon at his age, and would require blood and urine tests. An early diagnosis and treatment is always best and cost effective.
Until your dog’s weight loss has been investigated I don’t advise changing the diet or insulin dose.
You also say you are reluctant to “bother a vet”, but I would recommend a veterinary check up, including a full physical examination and any further investigation suggested by them.