At Home Dental Care for a Pug
At-home dental care and professional care (as needed), is vital for all dogs. Every second, around-the-clock, plaque is being produced. It is a clear, sticky substance that clings to teeth. It is not fully removed from chewing on toys or treats. Within 3 days, it starts to harden into tartar (also referred to as calculus), which is much more difficult to remove.
As these substances grip a dog’s teeth, they eat away at the enamel. Tartar can also travel under the gum line where it damages teeth, unseen. This often leads to tooth decay, gingivitis (gum disease), periodontal disease, and eventual tooth loss. There can also be tooth infection(s), an infection that travels up into the sinuses, and the risk of full-body sepsis which can be fatal. As you can imagine, halitosis (bad breath) is common as well.
#1: If you are not sure if your Pug's teeth are without issues, schedule a veterinary exam.
It is important to rule out current decay, infection, periodontal disease and other issues that cannot be resolved with at-home care. The veterinarian will take an x-ray, examine the teeth and any current issues will be treated. Note that this may involve a ‘full dental’, which requires sedation (more info ahead on this). Then, you can implement an at-home program of proper dental hygiene to help prevent future issues.
Brushing is one of the most effective methods to remove plaque, keep the teeth clean, and
prevent bad breath. Not all dogs sit nice and still for this; however, it is worth an effort since a dog can certainly become accustomed to this. Some learn to enjoy the massaging aspects of this and/or start to like the taste of the canine toothpaste.
Here are some tips:
- Use an appropriately sized canine toothbrush. Most are sized for dogs in general so those designed for puppies are typically best for Pugs 10 lbs. and under. And, an adult-sized brush will often be best for those over 10 lbs.
- Brushes with 3 sides can be helpful since these cover the top and sides of the teeth all at once compared to a flat brush that only scrubs one surface.
- A finger-brush can be used to help a dog get used to having his teeth touched or be used in place of a brush. This is a small, rubber-tipped doodad that slips over your pointer finger.
- Never use human toothpaste. Human toothpaste contains fluoride which is toxic to canines, possibly contains xylitol which is toxic to canines, and has foaming agents which can make a dog choke.
- Opt for a canine paste that is flavored to encourage tolerance to brushings; vanilla or chicken are good choices.
- Brush for a good 2 to 3 minutes, once per day. If you want to do it twice, that’s all the better.
- While it is perfectly safe for a dog to swallow quality canine paste, you may wish to wipe excess paste away with a clean piece of gauze.
There are different types of dental supplement products for dogs, with most either marketed as a replacement for brushing or to be used in conjunction with it. Some may also help prevent bad breath, but this is often due to a reduction of plaque and not as an actual equivalent of human breath mints. Dental aids such as this include sprays, liquid supplements added to a dog's water, wipes, and powders that are added to food.
If your Pug does not tolerate having their teeth brushed or if you wish to add on to the current dental hygiene plan that you have for your puppy or dog, you may want to consider
Premium Pet Dental Spray by Pets Are Kids Too. This is both a spray and a water supplement. It is meant to be sprayed on the teeth each day; two to three sprays on the teeth and gums of each side. It can also be added to a dog's water with 1 spray mixed into each 1 cup of water.
#4: Offer a daily dental treat.
Regardless of whether you brush or not, how often you do it, and if you use a supplement or not, it can be very beneficial to offer a dental chew. This are edible chews designed to loosen and remove plaque as they are being gnawed on. They are very hard, by design, so all Pugs should be supervised when given these.
While these do not usually have a whole lot of nutritional value, they usually do contain a moderate amount of calories, so it is best to offer one a day in place of one of a Pug's regular dry snack.
One of the most popular choices is
Greenies Dental Chews
which offers several different sizes based on a dog's weight, grain-free options, and flavor options including blueberry.
Bringing Your Pug for Professional Cleanings
Even with stringent at-home cleanings and care, many dogs need professional cleanings every 1 to 3 years. And, for those that had a lack of dental care in the past, this is a ‘must’.
When a complete examination and cleaning is performed by the veterinarian, this is typically referred to as a ‘full dental’ and is usually done with a dog under light sedation. Pre-screening is done to ensure that a dog is healthy enough for anesthesia.
The entire dental treatment generally includes x-rays to assess both teeth and bones, a rinse to kill bacteria in the mouth, a dental probe to measure pockets between teeth and gums, scaling of teeth (usually with an ultrasonic scaler) to remove tartar both above and below the gum line, and teeth polishing. A plaque-guard agent may be applied.