Dental Care for Golden Retriever – What You Need to Know?

Dental Care for a Golden Retriever often involves preventative care such as carrying out regular brushing, preferably twice a week. This is great way to prevent gum disease, mouth odor and plaque buildup. There are also a wide variety of dog foods, biscuits, and dog chews available which are great ways to help remove plaque. In addition, there are many dog toothpastes and toothbrushes available on the market today. Your veterinarian will be able to advise on the best product for your dog. A soft brush or gauze pad is often recommended to clean your pet's teeth, and toothpastes come in many different flavors. Dental instruments for plaque removal are not recommended for home use, as they can damage or scrape the teeth, and lead to more plaque buildup. Instead visit your veterinary for professional teeth cleaning and plaque removal.

Bad breath in your Golden Retriever may be a sign of poor dental health or dental disease. Ensure you regularly examine your dog's teeth, by gently lifting the lips to check for inflamed gums, missing/broken teeth, and tartar. The infected gums and teeth can also be a sign that other organs may be affected such as the heart, kidney, intestinal tract, and joints. The mass of bacteria from tartar and any infected areas can spread to other parts of the body. Proper dental care can therefore help to avoid serious side effects.

When having professional dental cleaning carried out, your veterinarian may request that pre-dental blood work is carried out to provide an overview of your pets over-all health. Blood work may include a blood count to ensure liver and kidneys are functioning well. This helps to avoid placing your dog under any risks when they are given anesthesia before the procedure. Anesthesia is necessary to help reduce any anxiety during the examination, and to make the process easier for the veterinary, such as enabling them to open your dog's mouth more easily. Often, your dog will be required to undergo fasting the night before the procedure, and some pets are placed on antibiotics to minimize any chances of infection during cleaning. During cleaning, your pet will have tartar and any gingival pockets removed. Your veterinarian will check for any cavities, loose teeth, growths on the gums and palates, remove any unhealthy teeth, and carry out polishing. Polishing helps to smooth and shine the teeth after tartar removal.

Your veterinarian may prescribe pain medications for your Golden Retriever, depending on what procedure is carried out. Similarly they may also post-dental antibiotics. If you have questions or clarifications about your Golden Retriever's comfort level or dental care after the procedure, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.