But gum disease isn’t the only dental danger for your pooch. Lack of proper dental care can also cause your dog to develop conditions such as gingivitis, tonsillitis and pharyngitis. These are serious illnesses that can cause bad breath, tooth loss, and, worst of all, bacterial infections, which can spread to vital organs, such as the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver.

To know if your dog is suffering from poor dental care, look for symptoms like mouth odor or bleeding and swollen gums. He may also experience pain when he eats.

What can you do?
Prevention is the best medicine. When you take your dog to the veterinarian for his annual check-up, make sure it includes a thorough dental exam. If tartar buildup is severe or there are problems, your vet may recommend a cleaning, which usually involves general anesthesia.

You can avoid costly veterinarian bills through good oral hygiene for your dog:

• Brushing: You can use a piece of gauze wrapped around your index finger or a canine toothbrush from a pet supply store. Be sure to use toothpaste made especially for dogs (also available at pet supply stores), since dogs swallow after brushing instead of rinsing.
  
• Food: Include dry kibble in your dog’s diet, and make sure it is a high-quality food. Coarse food can help scrape away tartar as your dog eats. Check out our section on nutrition.
  
• Chews: Provide your dog with the right kind of chew toys will help clean his teeth as he plays. While GRRMF does not recommend rawhide, there are many kinds of chews designed to help remove tartar as your dog gnaws on them. GRRMF’s partnership with HealthyPetNet offers a line of dental chews – and the best part is, by ordering through our special link, GRRMF will receive a percentage of the proceeds. Check it out at by clicking here. HPN offers both Dental Chews and Dental Treats – which contain calcium, parsley and other ingredients to promote good oral health. As always, supervise your pet whenever he chews.