How Important Is Grooming and Your Dog’s Oral Hygiene?

Like most pet people, we all know the importance grooming our pet is to keeping them happy and healthy. Aside from the obvious advantages a routine grooming regimen offers, I strongly believe there are added benefits as well. When brushing, cleaning and trimming we help to train our pets and promote positive association with being touched. This is also an excellent opportunity to bond with your companion, but most importantly I find this helps us to early detect any ailments, bumps or injury your pet may be suffering from. Animals in the wild instinctually mask their pain as a means of survival and therefore our canine companions’ have continued this practice far beyond their ancestors’ days. Unfortunately, their pain can go unnoticed until it’s far too late which is why it is crucial to set a standard and frequent grooming schedule

However, despite my strong belief I too am guilty of falling short. Specifically around oral hygiene care and I recently had to face my own negligence. Although I stand behind chewing to assist with tartar buildup, I am not as diligent with brushing her teeth. I generally only get around to it when she gets her bath which is about every 4-6 weeks.

Anyone who follows or knows me, knows that KiKo recently had her 12th birthday.

About 2 weeks later, I could see the water in her bowl looked a little pink. However, because this was right after her dinner I thought nothing of it. The following morning, I noticed what appeared to be small blood stains streaked on my bed sheets around where she usually sleeps. I call her over and flip her jowls up to find what some would only describe as complete neglect. It was just awful. Her upper and lower front gums were bloody and it looked as if all the teeth were about to come loose. I immediately called my vet and thankfully was able to bring her in that afternoon.

During the visit, my veterinarian prescribed a course of antibiotics and a dual purpose (periodontal and joint support) supplement. I was expected to return for bloodwork to ensure she would be cleared to undergo anesthesia for a dental cleaning within the next 60 days.

Given she is a senior dog and brachycephalic, you could only imagine the anxiety that I was under. Having just celebrated a BIG birthday, I was bitter having to realize her mortality. Yet knowing how lively KiKo is at her age, there was no way I would not take the risk of putting her under and rob us of the extra years to keep doing this damn thang.

Today was the procedure. As I worried for most of the night, I was only able to get about 4 hours of sleep before having to drop her off this morning. Even after getting a call to notify the procedure went well and she was in recovery, I continued to worry the remainder of the time as with these things sometimes the unexpected can still happen, especially in our silver years.

The full cleaning went well and her doctor confirmed her teeth were better than she expected. There was no disease found and the tartar wasn't even too bad. She had 3 teeth extracted.

The technician said she would be a little groggy, likely a little nauseous from the anesthesia and may not want any food, but to try giving her water around 7pm tonight. When this nugget heard the bowl she came running into the kitchen. Once she realized it was only water, you had to see the look of pure disappointment.

This experience has opened my eyes to how I could do a far better job when it comes to brushing and caring for her oral hygiene. I wanted to write on the topic because I know I am not alone in this delinquent practice. Moreover, I wanted to raise awareness around the overall grooming that should take place to ensure the health and longevity of your dog's happy life. They are with us for such a short time, we should look to protect them and keep them healthy.