Pet Information 


Caring For Your Pomeranians Teeth


Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not caring for them properly can cause serious health problems for your dog.

Dental disease in dogs can cause serious health issues as the bacteria from infected gums and teeth can "spread" to other parts of the body and affect vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and intestines. Tarter or dental calculus starts off soft but can harden on the dogs teeth. Once hardened, it cannot be brushed away but requires a dental scaling just like you get in the dentist chair! If the teeth are left untreated, the buildup can cause the gums to become inflamed and can also cause serious infections.

Does Your Pom Have Bad Teeth?

Pomeranians are prone to dental problems. Buildup of plaque and tooth loss can be severe and cause problems with their daily routines. To tell if your dog has bad teeth, lift up his lips and check his teeth at the gumline - can you see tarter? Are the teeth white or discolored? Does his breath smell? Are there broken teeth?

All of these can indicate the need for better dog tooth care. Your veterinarian will probably do a dental check as part of they yearly checkup and can advise you as to the extent of the problem, if any.

Providing Better Pomeranian Tooth Care

Bones

Chewing on raw bones can be a good way for your dog to remove built up tarter but Poms have very small mouths and may not be able to chew a real bone so you might want to try one of the manufactured bones that are made specifically for dog dental care. I would advise against cooked bones as they can splinter and cause damage to the gums or intestine if swallowed.

Brushing Your Poms Teeth

Brushing is a vital part of dog tooth care and should be done at least once a week - preferably every day. There are plenty of flavored toothpastes formulated for dogs that your pet will love the taste of. You can use a finger brush (a rubber piece that fits on the end of your finger with bristles), a hand held brush that looks much like a human tooth brush, or a little brush that fits on the end of a "ring" which you put on your finger. My Pomeranian is extremely tiny and I find the "ring" brush works best for me.

Scaling

This procedure is done by your veterinarian and is pretty much the same thing as the scaling you get at the dentist. The teeth are scraped and polished and any loose or badly damaged teeth are removed. Your dog is put under anesthesia for this procedure and it is quite costly. Proper brushing will limit the need for this to be done.

Getting Your Pomeranian Used To Brushing

While it's best to start when he is a puppy, it's not too late for your older Pom to get good dental care! Start off slowly, maybe with just a dab of the toothpaste on your finger so he can lick it off (my dog loves the taste!). Be sure to use a special paste for dogs and not human toothpaste - human toothpaste can be harmful to your pet. You can get a paste from your vet that has enzymes that will help fight the bacteria. Also, you'll want a soft brush so you do not damage the gums.

Take it one day at a time and gradually get the dog used to you touching his head and opening the mouth. Each day try to go one step further - open the mouth, then touch his teeth, then his gums. Use your finger at first and introduce the brush later. This can be a a bonding time for you and your dog - eventually your pet may even look forward to his nightly brushing! Remember that your Pom is very small so you don't want to scrub roughly and hurt the dog - just brush gently. You should try to brush your dogs teeth every day or at least every other day so that the plaque will not have a chance to harden. While this may seem like a chore, think of it as an important medical need for your pet.

Frequent brushing and proper dental care can add years to your Poms life!

Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and webmaster of Pomeranian Pages.com where you can find out more about the Pomeranian Breed. Be sure to check out their dog care articles.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Money Times

Pet product company recalls nearly 75000 bags of dog treats
CNN
(CNN) -- A leading pet product company has issued a voluntary recall of nearly 75000 bags of dog treats due to salmonella concerns, according to the US Food ...
Dog Treats Recalled After FDA Finds SalmonellaAHN | All Headline News
74700 Bags Of Possibly Salmonella Tainted Beef Treats For Dogs Recalled , Says FDAMedical News Today
Close to 75000 bags of dog treats recalledExaminer.com

all 30 news articles »


Boston Globe

Some state laws are lax on exotic pets
Boston Globe
Cindy Huntsman, with a baby zebra at her Stump Hill Farm near Massillon, Ohio, says incidents of attacks by exotic animals kept as pets “are a very small ...
Ohio pets' fate to depend on ownersLaconia Citizen
Days may be numbered for owning exotic animals in OhioDayton Daily News
Rules being tightened on exotic animal ownership in OhioYork Daily Record

all 12 news articles »


Mix it up: Learn how to introduce pets to each other
Lawrence Journal World
If the answer is yes, your pet could certainly benefit by having another animal around, then don't rush. Take your time, carefully selecting your pet's ...
Pet-A-Palooza highlights canine problem dogging countyThe Newark Advocate
Group needs cash for critter careBrandon Sun

all 4 news articles »


Elderly Ohio woman, pets will soon be homeless
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SHEFFIELD LAKE, Ohio -- On Sept. 27, Claudia "Chris" Spear and the nine dogs she has adopted will no longer have a home. She is 76. ...

and more »


New Zealand Herald

Missing pets add to post quake stress
New Zealand Herald
People with pets missing for more than 24 hours should call SPCA Track-A-Pet line on 0900 56-787. Photo / Christchurch Star It wasn't ...
SPCA: Pet owners should not panicTVNZ
Our conflicted relationship with animalsSalon

all 8 news articles »


APNewsBreak: Ohio pets' fate to depend on owners
The Associated Press
The bear's owner had lost his federal license to display the animal but legally continued to keep a menagerie of wild beasts as pets. ...

and more »


Pets recovering after being bitten by poisonous snakes in Locks Heath
Daily Echo
FIVE dogs needed emergency treatment after being bitten by poisonous adders in the last four weeks. The potentially fatal attacks left all five dogs ...

and more »


Pet of the Week
Wausau Daily Herald
Pet of the Week is submitted in advance by the Humane Society of Marathon County. Pets featured might have been adopted already, but other animals are ...

and more »


Alligators found in North: Wild animals as pets=tragedy
Examiner.com
Wild animals do not make good pets. Alligators continue to be bread and sold as pets and farm animals. Ownership is usually illegal. ...



Donations sought for pet food pantry
Times Record News
Leslie Harrelson, executive director of PETS Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic, feeds a clinic client. Hoping to aid families who may not be able to afford pet ...


Google News

home | site map
Copyright 2009 Webhostsavings4u.com. All rights reserved