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Clean teeth and gums are
very important to the
overall health of your Shih
Tzu. Here is some
information on the most
common dental problems in
dogs and ways of treating
them.
Common dental problems
- Periodontitis
It is very common among Shih
Tzu and all dogs to have gum
disease. At the age of two
or three, many dogs have
either periodontitis or
gingivitis.
The most common dental
problem for canines is
periodontitis, also known as
periodontal disease. The
disease is caused by various
factors: plaque, food
debris, cell mucus, and a
mixture of bacteria. This
results in a film
characterized by milky-white
on the dog's teeth as well
as the gums. When this film
gets combined with saliva,
the plaque it causes becomes
tartar, and very hard to
remove.
- Gingivitis
Gingivitis, also known as
gum disease, happens when
gum tissue suffers from an
inflammation. Without
treatment, it can lead to
periodontitis, teeth
loosening, bone loss, and
ultimately, loss of teeth.
- Tooth fractures
Tooth fractures occur when
Shih Tzu or any dog chew
hard substances, such as
hard rocks and cow hooves.
The fractures result to
infection inside the broken
tooth, which is known as the
endodontic disease.
How to prevent dental
problems
Your Shih Tzu can fight off
these dental problems by
removing the plaque before
it actually develops as
tartar. How to do it? The
most effective way is by
brushing the teeth of your
Shih Tzu in a mechanical
fashion. The brushing would
reduce much of the bacteria
presence in the mouth, not
to mention making your Shih
Tzu’s breath smell sweeter.
Make it a habit of brushing
your Shih Tzu’s teeth on a
daily basis.
Toothpaste: There are
toothpaste products made
especially for dogs. Brush
your Shih Tzu’s teeth using
dog toothpaste. Human
toothpaste is specifically
designed for humans to spit
the paste washings out. Dogs
cannot do that, so pick dog
toothpaste that is safe
enough for your Shih Tzu to
swallow.
Toothbrush: Using a
toothbrush in its teeth will
take some time for the Shih
Tzu to get used to. Let your
dog be acquainted and get
used to this is by putting
some garlic salt, mix the
salt with water, and dip the
solution in an old
toothbrush. Hold the old
brush, and let your Shih Tzu
taste and chew it. Your Shih
Tzu will start to realize
that chewing a toothbrush is
and tastes good. Make it a
habit a few times, until he
feels comfortable brushing
with it.
Finger brush: You could also
use a finger brush instead
of a toothbrush. A finger
brush is a good alternative,
although nothing could
replace the good toothbrush.
The finger brush just fits
onto one's fingertip and can
let you brush the Shih Tzu’s
teeth without the dog
knowing it. Well, at least
almost. The disadvantage of
getting a finger brush to
clean your Shih Tzu’s teeth
is that its bristles are
quite large for the brush to
go under the gum line’s
margin as effectively
compared with regular
toothbrush.
Professional cleaning: If
you don't want to do the
cleaning by yourself, you
could take your Shih Tzu to
a veterinarian and have his
teeth professionally
cleaned. A good veterinarian
will take additional
measures in ensuring your
Shih Tzu’s clean teeth by
anesthetizing your Shih Tzu,
scraping the buildup of
plaque from all over the gum
line areas, and polishing
the teeth for a sparkling
finish.
Home checkup: Try to make it
a regular habit of checking
the teeth of your Shih Tzu
for any cracked or broken
teeth. If you see some
problematic teeth, check
promptly with the
veterinarian.
Home safety: Of course,
cleaning your Shih Tzu’s
teeth does not mean you
should disregard other areas
of concern. Tough
substances, such as bones,
rocks, hard nylon, or cow
hooves should be removed
from areas where your dog
could see. Buy your Shih Tzu
chewing toys that are safer
like rubber-made toys. You
could also provide bones
that are soft enough for
your dog to chew.
Mouthwash: There are some
products in the market that
deal very well in helping to
kill the bacteria in your
dog's mouth and could
actually help heal damaged
gum tissues. Do not forget
to ask your veterinarian on
the best products in the
market.
Dental problems do not only
happen to humans. Shih Tzu
and all dog breeds also have
dental issues. It is up to
the owners on how to help
their pet dogs overcome
their dental problems.
About The Author
Connie Limon. I
raise Shih Tzu
puppies from top
champion bloodlines
in many different
colors of blues,
reds, chocolates,
blacks. We have the
small AKC standards,
imperials and
teacups at
reasonable prices.
We offer you
educational
material, dog bows
and dog clothes.
Visit us online at:
http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
and sign up for our
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privately-owned
informational Shih
Tzu site on the
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