Tim Amherst

One of the most often overlooked areas in care of Pit Bulls
involves dental health. It is important not only in caring for
his teeth, but in also protecting his overall well being. Being
able to chew food properly affects digestion, which can lead to
all kinds of health problems for your Pit Bull. Learning how to
care for your Pit Bull's dental health needs at home can save
you a lot of out of pocket expense over your Pit Bull's
lifetime. Believe it or not, you should try to brush your dog's
teeth at least once everyday. Just like you, your Pit Bull will
have plaque and tartar that can destroy his teeth or lead to gum
disease. It could result in your Pit Bull losing his teeth, or
developing an infection.



If you haven't already developed a dental hygiene routine for
your Pit Bull, you may need to take it slow and easy to get him
used to the idea. Begin by getting him used to you holding him
and looking inside his mouth. If you have an older Pit Bull,
just holding the dog long enough to look in his mouth may be a
challenge at first. Once you get him comfortable with you
holding him and looking inside his mouth, start lifting up his
lips and moving his tongue around so you can actually see his
teeth. These first couple steps may take your Pit Bull some time
to get used to, so be patient. Once he is comfortable with you
messing with his mouth, see your veterinarian to get a
toothpaste recommended for him. Start by using the toothpaste on
your finger for a few days, to get him used to the taste and
feeling of you rubbing his teeth. Your Pit Bull will probably
enjoy this, especially if he gets flavored toothpaste. He will
definitely love the extra attention. Eventually, your Pit Bull
will let you brush his teeth, which will help protect his teeth
and health. Dental problems in Pit Bulls can be very painful for
them, and can often be hard to treat successfully. If by some
chance you have a Pit Bull that absolutely will not let you near
his mouth, let alone brush his teeth, there are some alternative
ways to ensure his dental health. Your veterinarian can
recommend a good dental rinse that can be added to your Pit
Bull's water bowl to help rid the teeth of debris. Chew toys
will also help clean the teeth and keep his bones strong and
healthy. Be careful when buying chew toys for your Pit Bull to
make certain the toy isn't hard enough to damage his teeth, and
is large enough so he can't get choked on it. There are some dog
foods now available that are supposed to provide dental care,
which actually means that the food sticks to plaque and tartar
as the dog chews, therefore getting it off the teeth. Remember,
that to provide proper care for your Pit Bull, you cannot omit
his dental health. By taking the time to provide dental care
when your Pit Bull is a puppy, you can start ensuring his dental
health in the beginning, which will save you a lot of costly vet
bills as time goes by.



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