Tartar in dogs - risks, how to prevent and treat.

Tartar in dogs - risks, how to prevent and treat,
Just like humans, dogs also develop tartar and this is often neglected by dog and cat owners. Often the guardians don't even know what condition the animal's teeth are in because they don't have the habit of checking the dog's mouth often.
Sometimes the front teeth look healthy, but the back teeth are full of tartar. Make a habit of always checking your dog's teeth and know how to identify tartar.
If you don't feel safe to touch the dog's mouth (the ideal is to get him used to it since he was a puppy), take him to the vet so that the professional can tell you if your dog needs tartar cleaning surgery.
Tartar is a plaque of bacteria that accumulates over time due to food leftovers. Even if the dog only eats dry food, crunchy dog cookies and treats that "clean" the teeth, this is often not enough.
Tartar is an accumulation of bacteria and it will eat away at the pet's gums. As the tartar advances, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and end up in the heart, kidneys and liver, leading even to the death of the dog. Yes, tartar can kill your dog.
It is important to know that tartar is a matter of tendency. Some dogs have an oral pH that facilitates the accumulation of tartar, just as some people are more prone to have plaque and others are not.
Usually, small breeds are more prone to have tartar, but this is not a rule. Large dogs can also have tartar, and there are small dogs that are not prone to it. It will vary according to the individual.
The only way to avoid tartar (or to delay its appearance, if it is a more prone dog) is to brush DAILY. Yes, you need to brush your dog's teeth every day.
The canine toothpaste most recommended by veterinary dentists is Virbac's C.E.T. Although it is more expensive than other pastes, it is the most recommended by veterinarians when we talk about preventing tartar.
Remembering that if your dog is very prone to tartar, even brushing the tartar can appear, but if you brush every day you will postpone this appearance.
One of the first symptoms of tartar is bad breath. Sometimes you don't see so much difference in the color of the teeth, but you start to feel that the dog has "breath", this usually indicates that tartar is accumulating.
The teeth affected by tartar will turn yellow and then turn brown. In addition, the tartar begins to push on the gums, making them red, inflamed, and in more severe cases, eroding the gum tissue.
In even more severe cases, the dog stops feeding, because the tartar causes pain and the dog starts to avoid chewing.
Don't look for homemade solutions to get rid of your dog's tartar, see a veterinarian and he will tell you if tartar cleaning surgery is necessary. Nothing you do at home will eliminate your dog's tartar once it is installed.
A simple surgery to clean the tartar is performed, usually by a veterinary dentist and an anesthesiologist. The most indicated anesthesia is the inhalation one, because it is safer for most dogs.
Pre-operative exams are necessary to be sure that your dog is healthy enough to perform the procedure, which is simple and the dog goes home on the same day.
Yes, it is common for tartar to return. Some people perform the tartar cleaning procedure (tartarectomy) every 6 months or every year. But if you brush your dog's teeth every day, tartar will take longer to come back.