What to Do If Your Dog Shows Signs of Dental Disease?
It’s critically important that gingivitis or other gum diseases in Shih Tzus are treated as early as possible to prevent both irreversible teeth damage and related health issues. Studies show that dental disease in Shih Tzus make them more vulnerable to develop heart, liver, and kidney disease. This is because bacteria from the gums infiltrate the bloodstream and attach to the arteries in the dog’s heart. You should reach out to your vet immediately if your Shih Tzu is manifesting signs of periodontal disease.
Dog Gum Disease Treatment
It’s possible that your Shih Tzu just needs some oral antibiotics and a hygiene program of teeth brushing for his or her gingivitis, or even some teeth extractions. Nevertheless, the sooner these issues are addressed, the better it would be to avoid further worsening of your dog’s dental disease.
If your veterinarian is worried about your Shih’s gums and teeth, and treatment is needed, they might place your Shih Tzu under general anesthetic. It would enable them to clean and remove any built-up tartar and plaque and proceed with surgery on affected gums, teeth, tissues, and bones. They could then put topical antibiotic gel to your dog’s gums to help alleviate the pain or prescribe antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection.
How to Prevent Dental Disease in Dogs
Although an annual dental cleaning is likely to be recommended by your vet, there are also things we could do at home to help keep your Shih’s teeth clean and free from gingivitis-causing bacteria.
Brush Those Teeth
Brushing there teeth is arguably the most effective method to avoid dental disease in Shih Tzus and tooth rot. Unfortunately, though, it is not the easiest thing to do. Still, do not feel discouraged if the first teeth brushing session does not go as intended – a lot of dogs need to be started gradually. It is a weird sensation for them, but with a bit of positive training, you would be able to brush your Shih Tzu’s teeth without any problems.
Pick the proper toothbrush and dog toothpaste. These particular toothpaste are safe for dogs, whereas our toothpaste has toxic ingredients to dogs, such as xylitol.
Brushing your Shih Tzu’s teeth would remove and prevent tartar and plaque build-up and maintain your pup’s dental health in the best shape. Even though brushing every day is ideal, the ideal interval, even once or twice every week would provide major and noticeable benefits.
