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Boxer Dental Care - Taking Care of Your Boxer's Teeth
Overview
When an owner does not follow a daily dental care routine for their Boxer dog, that dog can develop a huge number of health problems.
The most common are:
The most common are:
- Toxin absorption into the dog’s blood stream
- Bacterial infections
- Abcess teeth – that leads to a dog having problems eating
- Bacterial Endocardtis – a very serious canine health issue in which bacteria from the teeth find their way into a dog’s heart
- Kidney damage
- Joint problems
Learn how to take care of your Boxer dog's teeth and how to train your dog to let you do it!
Dental care is extremely important for the health of the Boxer dog. With 42 teeth, there are 42 reasons to follow a good dental routine.
When should dental care begin?
Dental care for Boxer dogs should begin from the day that you bring your dog into your family. There is no age in which a Boxer dog is not vulnerable to canine tooth decay.
What is the difference between human tooth care and dog tooth care?
With dogs, very few will ever get cavities. However, it is plague, tarter and bacteria build up that can cause serious health problems.
Doesn't a dog clean their teeth when they chew on bones?
No. This is a common misconception. Some dog treats and some dog toys will help clean a dog's teeth a bit. They will not clean the teeth enough. There are some speical dog treats that are made to help clean teeth, this works in the same way as a dog chewing on rawhide; teeth are "scraped" clean to a certain degree. This is good for your Boxer dog, but not enough. In order for your Boxer dog to be health, daily care must be taken to keep his teeth cleaned. This routine should be as normal as taking him for a walk or feeding him dinner.
Dogs can develop some pretty serious tooth ailments if they do not receive these regular brushings. Aside from your daily dental care, take a look to learn about seroius canine dental disease and other tooth conditions of the Boxer dog.
More about Serious Canine Dental Issues
Won't it take up too much time to keep cleaning my Boxer dog's teeth?
No, not at all. If your Boxer does not like when you touch his teeth, hates tooth paste or runs when you take out the dog tooth brush...some time will need to be put into training your dog. However, once a dog is trained, this will only take about 5 minutes per day and can save your dog's life. Once you fall into a normal schedule, this should become as natural as brushing him, going for a walk or feeding your dog dinner.
What do I do if my dog hates having his teeth cleaned?
Not to worry. With our training techniques, just about every dog can be trained to sit nice while you brush their teeth. All this takes is your effort to not give up on training and allow your dog a week or so to become used to it.
Before you begin, some things to remember:
With your Boxer puppy or with an older dog who is not used to having their teeth cleaned you will begin the following way. Please keep in mind that you should follow these training instructions exactly. If you try to rush things, your dog may become fearful of having his teeth touched. Followed in this step-by-step way, within 4 weeks your Boxer dog will be a very well behaved dog for his daily 5 minute cleaning.
Week 1: Sit down with your Boxer and simply run your fingers around his teeth. If he shows any signs that this is causing him pain, he may already have an abscessed tooth: bring him to the vet. Spend about 3 to 4 minutes per day, simply running your fingers across all of his teeth. Each day, try to go further in to reach the rear teeth. This will let your Boxer dog get usedd to having his teeth touched. When he sits nice and allows you to do this, keep saying "Good dog!" and when you are done, pat him and give him a treat.
Week 2: Use the finger brush without toothpaste. This will allow your dog plenty of time to now get used to having a foreign object moved around his teeth. Use the above methods of praising your Boxer when he sits still while you brush around and give a treat when done.
Week 3: Use the finger brush, however now you will be adding dog toothpaste. You may begin by using just a very small dab and then begin using a normal amount. Praise is very important during this time. If your dog begins to get up and walk away, Follow this training technique: Follow him, sit besides him, ignore him for several minutes (do not ever say 1 word to him) and then try again. Do not speak to your dog unless he sits still while you brush the teeth. This will show your dog that walking away = being ignored and that behaving nice and sitting while you clean his teeth = praise, happiness and a dog treat when done.
Week 4: This is the final week of training to allow your dog to become used to the daily care. Use a dog tooth brush with the dog toothpaste. Go gentle and make sure to brush all of the teeth. Much of the paste will be swallowed: this is normal and with dog toothpaste, it is harmless.
What if my Boxer dog refused to let me use a brush, and I tried all of the training exactly?
Some dogs can be very stubborn. It is recommended to do the training again, but allow 2 weeks for each step. If that fails, you should then try using dog teeth wipes. These are special wipes made for a dog's teeth. It will wipe off bacteria and will clean to a certain extent.
Does my Boxer Need to Go to the Doggie Dentist?
Yes. It is very important that you schedule a once-a-year dental appointment with your dog's veterinarian and not only go if there is a problem! This yearly cleaning will remove buildup that daily cleaning simply cannot do. The vet will also be able to determine if there are any issues developing that need special care. If there are any serious problems,the vet will most likely refer you to a canine orthodontist.
Dental care for Boxer dogs should begin from the day that you bring your dog into your family. There is no age in which a Boxer dog is not vulnerable to canine tooth decay.
What is the difference between human tooth care and dog tooth care?
With dogs, very few will ever get cavities. However, it is plague, tarter and bacteria build up that can cause serious health problems.
Doesn't a dog clean their teeth when they chew on bones?
No. This is a common misconception. Some dog treats and some dog toys will help clean a dog's teeth a bit. They will not clean the teeth enough. There are some speical dog treats that are made to help clean teeth, this works in the same way as a dog chewing on rawhide; teeth are "scraped" clean to a certain degree. This is good for your Boxer dog, but not enough. In order for your Boxer dog to be health, daily care must be taken to keep his teeth cleaned. This routine should be as normal as taking him for a walk or feeding him dinner.
Dogs can develop some pretty serious tooth ailments if they do not receive these regular brushings. Aside from your daily dental care, take a look to learn about seroius canine dental disease and other tooth conditions of the Boxer dog.
More about Serious Canine Dental Issues
Won't it take up too much time to keep cleaning my Boxer dog's teeth?
No, not at all. If your Boxer does not like when you touch his teeth, hates tooth paste or runs when you take out the dog tooth brush...some time will need to be put into training your dog. However, once a dog is trained, this will only take about 5 minutes per day and can save your dog's life. Once you fall into a normal schedule, this should become as natural as brushing him, going for a walk or feeding your dog dinner.
What do I do if my dog hates having his teeth cleaned?
Not to worry. With our training techniques, just about every dog can be trained to sit nice while you brush their teeth. All this takes is your effort to not give up on training and allow your dog a week or so to become used to it.
Before you begin, some things to remember:
- Never use human toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is not a way to take your money! Human tooth paste is dangerous to dogs. Because so much of the paste can be swallowed, the build up on ingested ingredients can be toxic to dogs. While a small breed dog, such as a Mini Poodle or Pomeranian would be more likely to become ill...even a large Boxer could. Do not take a chance with your Boxer's health and please purchase a high-quality dog toothpaste.
- Begin as soon as possible. Puppies how are taught to have their teeth cleaned will grow up knowing it is a normal part of their day.
- Do not give up if your dog runs away from you when you begin, our training will allow both you and your dog to become used to this.
- A finger brush for dogs - this will be used first, if your Boxer dog is not used to having his teeth cleaned
- A dog tooth brush - Much different than a human brush, you should make all attempts to train up to the level of using a dog tooth brush
- Dog tooth paste - never underestimate the importance of using this
With your Boxer puppy or with an older dog who is not used to having their teeth cleaned you will begin the following way. Please keep in mind that you should follow these training instructions exactly. If you try to rush things, your dog may become fearful of having his teeth touched. Followed in this step-by-step way, within 4 weeks your Boxer dog will be a very well behaved dog for his daily 5 minute cleaning.
Week 1: Sit down with your Boxer and simply run your fingers around his teeth. If he shows any signs that this is causing him pain, he may already have an abscessed tooth: bring him to the vet. Spend about 3 to 4 minutes per day, simply running your fingers across all of his teeth. Each day, try to go further in to reach the rear teeth. This will let your Boxer dog get usedd to having his teeth touched. When he sits nice and allows you to do this, keep saying "Good dog!" and when you are done, pat him and give him a treat.
Week 2: Use the finger brush without toothpaste. This will allow your dog plenty of time to now get used to having a foreign object moved around his teeth. Use the above methods of praising your Boxer when he sits still while you brush around and give a treat when done.
Week 3: Use the finger brush, however now you will be adding dog toothpaste. You may begin by using just a very small dab and then begin using a normal amount. Praise is very important during this time. If your dog begins to get up and walk away, Follow this training technique: Follow him, sit besides him, ignore him for several minutes (do not ever say 1 word to him) and then try again. Do not speak to your dog unless he sits still while you brush the teeth. This will show your dog that walking away = being ignored and that behaving nice and sitting while you clean his teeth = praise, happiness and a dog treat when done.
Week 4: This is the final week of training to allow your dog to become used to the daily care. Use a dog tooth brush with the dog toothpaste. Go gentle and make sure to brush all of the teeth. Much of the paste will be swallowed: this is normal and with dog toothpaste, it is harmless.
What if my Boxer dog refused to let me use a brush, and I tried all of the training exactly?
Some dogs can be very stubborn. It is recommended to do the training again, but allow 2 weeks for each step. If that fails, you should then try using dog teeth wipes. These are special wipes made for a dog's teeth. It will wipe off bacteria and will clean to a certain extent.
Does my Boxer Need to Go to the Doggie Dentist?
Yes. It is very important that you schedule a once-a-year dental appointment with your dog's veterinarian and not only go if there is a problem! This yearly cleaning will remove buildup that daily cleaning simply cannot do. The vet will also be able to determine if there are any issues developing that need special care. If there are any serious problems,the vet will most likely refer you to a canine orthodontist.
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