Mild Gingivitis
Margin of attached
gingiva (gum) is inflamed and swollen. Plaque covering teeth. Treatment can
reverse condition.
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It doesn't
matter if you are feeding your Kuvasz a meaty bone diet. It doesn't matter
if they spend time crunching hard food, chewy bones, and gritty treats too.
You must still brush their teeth and massage their gums.
According
to Upjohn, the pharmaceutical manufacturer, "more than 85 percent of dogs
and cats over 4 years old suffer from periodontal disease". The pictures I've
included are worth a thousand words.
Even though
your dog's teeth may look alright, bacteria is ever present and multiplying
at the gum line. Just as our gums will sometimes bleed if we don't floss and
stimulate them, a dog's will too. Then the gums start to recede from the
teeth creating more space for bacteria to grow, and the attack on the roots
and jaw begins. Even worse, the bacteria enters your companion's bloodstream
through the mouth and gum tissues, and can infect the lungs, heart, kidneys,
liver, and even the nervous system.
Aside from
the obvious health and financial benefits of caring for your dog's teeth,
regular and frequent maintenance also reinforces your alpha status. If you
include this oral hygiene regimen with frequent handling of an 8 week old
pup, the exercise will be met with only passive resistance when a Kuvasz is
grown.
All dogs have
the same number of teeth, so it's comparatively easier to work in a larger
Kuvasz mouth rather than a Yorkshire Terrier's. You can purchase distinctive
implements which will fit on your finger like those pictured on the Kuvasz
As Pets page, and special doggie toothpaste. You shouldn't use human tooth
paste since it isn't meant to be swallowed, or baking soda since the sodium
content isn't good for a dog's stomach.
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