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Dogs need regular dental care just like you do; gum disease and broken teeth are the major concerns. Fortunately, pets seldom suffer from tooth decay. Their cone-shaped teeth, non-acidic saliva, and low-sugar diets all help protect them from this nasty ailment. (Note: If you give your pets sweets for snacks, they can get cavities.)
Regular brushing and professional cleaning can keep your dog’s teeth healthy and gleaming. Giving your pet appropriate toys to chew prevents fractures.
Periodontal disease affects the gums, bones, and connective tissue around the teeth, and it can cause tooth loss. First, plaque—a soft, clear, or cream-colored deposit—forms on the teeth. If it isn't removed, minerals in the dog's saliva turn plaque into tartar. Tartar builds up below the gums, and bacteria grows, causing inflammation.
The same bacteria that causes the inflammation can enter your pet's bloodstream and cause or aggravate lung, kidney, liver, and heart problems. That's a lot of trouble, worry, and cost from something that could be stopped in its early stages.
When your puppy first begins to get permanent teeth, check carefully to be sure the baby teeth come out as the new teeth come in. Retained teeth can cause the permanent teeth to be crooked. Toy dog breeds, with their tiny jaws, are at special risk for this problem.
While hard foods and chew toys can help keep teeth clean, you need to get your pet used to regular tooth-brushing. As soon as you bring your new pet home, get him accustomed to having his mouth handled. This is good practice for dogs that will be shown; judges check to make sure dogs have their full set of teeth. It is also good training—it teaches the dog to tolerate having things in his mouth without biting or snapping.
What your dog eats affects his 'smile.' Dry foods and treats help clean plaque from his teeth. Rawhide chews are also good cleaning tools, as are some of the knobby plastic toys on the market. None of these are hard enough to cause tooth damage, but be sure to watch your pet to make sure small pieces of the toys aren't torn off and swallowed. Real bones can also be dangerous for your pet and should not be used for tooth-cleaning purposes.
All dry adult IAMS™ Dog Foods, such as IAMS ProActive Health™ Adult MiniChunks, include Daily Dental Care, a special kibble coating that helps reduce tartar buildup for better oral health.
It just takes a little time and patience. Begin by running your finger gently over his gums. At first, just rub the outside, but as he adjusts to the routine, begin to open his mouth and rub the gums inside the teeth as well.
As your dog gets accustomed to this, wrap your finger with gauze and rub his gums. Eventually, add a pet toothpaste; do not use human toothpaste. After a few weeks, your dog should be willing to accept a toothbrush for pets, which should have soft, multi-tufted synthetic bristles.
Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and apply it to the area where teeth and gums meet. Rotate it in small circles, overlapping several teeth. Finish with vertical strokes to pull plaque from between the teeth. Repeat until all the teeth on the cheek side are clean. The inside teeth will be more difficult, as your dog may resist opening his mouth, but eventually you'll be able to brush the inside and outside surfaces of all the teeth. For effective cleaning, brush your dog's teeth a couple of times a week.
If your dog won't cooperate with home brushing or if you already see brown tartar stains on his teeth or red and bleeding gums, it's time to turn to your veterinarian for help. He or she will give your dog general anesthesia and clean the teeth above and below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar. After the teeth are cleaned, they will be polished to remove microscopic plaque and to make the teeth smooth to discourage plaque from clinging.
Remember, dental care is as important to your pet's health as it is to your own—you owe it to your dog to provide regular tooth care and cleaning.
Golden Retrievers are energetic and full of stamina, so daily exercise is a must. Adult Goldens need at least an hour’s exercise every day. Like the pug, this breed is highly prone to obesity, so they will quickly put on weight without proper physical activity like running, swimming (they just love water), and playing fetch.
Caring for Golden Retrievers is a moderate issue. Golden Retrievers have two shedding seasons (spring, autumn) in a year where they shed pretty heavily. Otherwise shedding is not a major challenge. You need to brush your Golden 3-4 times per week and bathe them once a month.
Because they tend to gain weight quickly, we recommend that you monitor their caloric intake daily. This is why Goldens need complete and balanced meals that are tailor-made to meet their unique needs. We recommend giving them premium Golden Retriever food like IAMS™ Proactive Health™Adult Golden Retriever that contains L-Carnitine to support healthy weight management, Glucosamine and Chondroitin to support healthy joints, and Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids to support skin and coat health. It is best to split their daily allowance into two meals.
Recommended Golden Retrievers food intake-
| SIZE OF GOLDEN RETRIEVER | RECOMMENDED DAILY FEEDING (G) |
|---|---|
| 20-30 kg | 255-345 |
| 30-40 kg | 345-430 |
| 40-50 kg | 430-505 |
| 50-60 kg | 505-580 |
Golden Retrievers are prone to moderate levels of health issues. Common ones include cancer and blood disorders, hip and elbow dysplasia, dislocated kneecaps, skin conditions, hypothyroidism, cataracts, and ear infections.
An ideal world for a Golden Retriever is to live in a home with a medium or large-sized yard. While they do well in apartments, they need a great deal of outdoor exercise to stay fit. So if you can manage that, Golden Retrievers can do well as indoor and outdoor pets.
So, is caring for a Golden Retriever the right choice for you? Goldens are high-energy pets and are one of the friendliest breeds out there. Their friendly nature and comfort around little kids make them an ideal choice for many first-time owners.
