Sometimes puppy owners face a dilemma regarding the type dog food for providing their puppies. Dogs tend to prefer moist and canned food types. They are aromatic and are naturally tempting the dog’s palate rather than the dry ones which comes inside a bag. Every dog’s dental health relies on the ability of the dog being to chew crunchy and hard items and kibble foods which are dry serve well for this purpose. What must an owner do?

Some make a 2 pronged approach while selecting food for their own furry friends. They mix a part of both dry foods with the canned, giving their pup “best of both the worlds.” If you’re feeding canned moist food to your pup, you would definitely give it nutrients in some way or other along with something which it can crunch and chew. Dog biscuits and chew dogs or treats might help to serve the purpose.

Do remember that a pup’s health depends upon the nutritional value of the food. A dog is as healthy like the food consumed, in all respects. The food which you get for your pup should meet the nutritional needs possible, either it’s moist or dry. Unfortunately while it comes to doggie’s food you get for what you pay. Generics and Store brands are made with lots of cheaper ingredients and many types of filler. They will feed your dog; however, they might not be the apt choices for your dog. The most expensive brands like the Science Diet and Eukanuba are “specially formulated” and really, to an extent, are. They have high quality ingredients which are suit better to meet all your pup’s needs.

In fact, if you are providing a good methodology for your pup to work on its choppers in a regular basis, it does not matter if you’re using moist food or dry. During regular checkups your doc will examine the pup’s teeth and will tell you if there’s a problem which needs to be repaired by giving some dietary supplement or different food type.

The reason why dogs need to chew on hard things is 2 fold. It strengthens the teeth and also works out the jaw muscles, keeping their teeth strong and having a powerful jaw. It also provides dental care .All owners should brush the dog’s teeth at least 2 times a week. If it’s not possible, crunchy foods as kibble and biscuits might be a sort of toothbrush for the pup, loosening the tartar and plaque for cleaning their teeth.

Selecting the correct food for your pup is very important for the pooch’s nutritional value needs and also it’s dental health. If you would prefer to give your pooch the soft tastier, moist foods which would come inside a can which is fine, just make it sure you are also giving something for your dog to really sink his tooth into.

The dental health of your pet is very important to their overall health and wellbeing. If Fido has bad breath, check first to ensure that her gums are not infected. Infected gums not only cause bad breath, but it is also painful and could cause a problem to internal organs diseases to organs such as heart, kidneys, intestines and joints. These organs can be subsequently infected by the bacteria spread from mouth region. With regular dental care, you can prevent such serious side effects.

Dental Care Tips:

Allow your pet to chew on raw bones at least once a month to prevent tartar build up. Regular chew on raw bones will avoid dental visits at the vet. Avoid giving cooked bones as these bones may splinter when chewed and can cause potential damage to intestinal linings of your pet. If your pet has never had raw bones, monitor them initially and ensure that they are able to handle it well and not swallow the bones whole which can cause chocking which is dangerous and could be fatal. Most dogs naturally are able to handle raw bones well. To be safe, get the huge beef or mutton knuckle bone where they cannot chew it down but use it for exercising the jaws and cleaning their teeth.

If feeding your dog raw bones is not something you want to try, go for dried bones instead. Dried huge knuckle bones are commonly found in pet shops. Ensure you purchase the huge mutton/beef bones that they cannot swallow.

Another alternative you can consider is brushing Fido teeth regularly at least once a day. Focus on the upper teeth as plaque tends to build up faster. Do not dig into Fido teeth with a toothbrush immediately. Start by getting them used to the toothbrush and toothpaste taste first before you make your next move. This training cannot be rushed, be patient and only go a little further when Fido allows you to. This feat is best accomplished only when Fido enjoys it else it will be a daily struggle with her which can be stressful for her as well.

Avoid rawhide. Though they are used commonly to clean Fido teeth, most rawhide have been preserved and cured with toxic chemicals and that is really unhealthy for your dogs. Furthermore, if your dog do not chew on it properly and swallow it whole, it can cause intestinal blockage. Besides, rawhide beef source is questionable. Food sources meant for pet consumption may come from sources not appropriate for human consumption.

There are crunchy snacks that claims to have dental cleaning abilities, do not depend on this as it may not be that effective as eating such foods in the first place would cause build up of food bits stuck in the teeth. Best to take the necessary actions to ensure long term good dental health for Fido to avoid unnecessary repercussions to their internal health condition.

One of the most important things we can do to protect the health and actually promote longevity in our dogs is tooth brushing! Dental health is critically essential for wellness of the major systems of the entire body! More on this and other dog care subjects can be found at http://bichonworld.com/bichon-dog-articles.html.

Imagine what would happen to us if we didn’t brush regularly each day! We’d have horrible breath, of course. But even worse, the resulting periodontal disease would mean multiple and severe health problems. The same is true for our 4-legged best friends.

Did you know that periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease in dogs? (This is also true for cats).

Studies indicate that more than 85% of all dogs 4 years and older suffer from periodontal disease! Not surprisingly, then, it is reported that by 3 years of age, 85% of dogs have begun to experience some phase of gum disease.

The progression of the disease begins with the formation of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that forms in the mouth at the gum line. Amazingly, 1 milligram of plaque contains more than 1 trillion bacteria - disease causing bacteria!

Plaque left on the teeth hardens into tartar which sticks to teeth like cement. The tartar leads to gingivitis, or gum disease, a condition in which actual gum damage begins. The gums become red and swollen, not to mention painful! Once this happens, the gums start to recede from the teeth, creating even more space for bacteria to grow.

Periodontal disease is now “off to the races” with a variety of very harmful effects. The roots of the teeth loosen as infection starts to cause bone loss. In smaller dogs, like our Bichon breeds, the bone that holds the teeth is thinner than that of medium-sized and larger dogs, so gum disease is likely to be even more of a problem for them.

Perhaps the most devastating and deadly effects of periodontal disease occur as the bacteria enters our companion’s bloodstream through the mouth and gum tissues. This leads to damage of tissue in the heart, kidneys, and liver, and even the lungs and nervous system.

Unfortunately, it is a little known fact that neglecting the dental health of our beloved little buddies can cause potentially fatal heart-disease, kidney-disease, and liver-disease.

The good news is that all this can be prevented! However, please, don’t be fooled into thinking that using dry dog food and providing bones or other chew toys is an effective solution for the necessary dental hygiene!

To maintain a healthy mouth and to prevent the serious conditions that result from ignoring dental needs, 2 things are needed:

* a tooth-brushing routine (preferably daily), and

* periodic professional cleaning by your veterinarian.

There is more good news! Tooth brushing can be done very quickly. Also, there are a variety of tasty doggie toothpastes and gels on the market to make our task easier. (Be sure to avoid using “human toothpaste” since those products are made to spit out and not to swallow!)

Although the thought of daily tooth-brushing for your dog might seem a little daunting at first, you’ll find it very quick and easy once it’s become a habit. Just keep in mind that what you’re doing is adding to the quality and years to your best friend’s life!