DOES YOUR FRENCHIE HAVE BAD BREATH?
How To Treat French Bulldogs With Bad Breath
Just imagine sitting outside by the pool trying to enjoy some fresh orange juice and breakfast when you start to look around and wonder what that terrible smell could be. You then get up and start looking around the pool. You go inside to see if it's your kitchen? looking under the mat and inside the toilet. Then, your little Frenchie tries to help you out with the search, panting like he always does next to your ear, and you stop and wait for a second to only realize that you have found what you've been looking for. It was your beloved Frenchie the whole time. You know you must do something to treat it. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of the dreaded “doggy breath.”
As a French Bulldog licks or grooms itself, hair loosens and goes straight into the mouth. These little pieces of hair have a very nasty habit of gathering all of the hair all the way to the gum line. Crazy right?. Unfortunately if these bits of hair go unnoticed or not taken care of for a long time they begin to take on a foul odor smell to your Frenchie and that's where the bad breath starts kicking in. Sadly, there is nothing your little Frenchie can do about it on their own. This is where their best human friend comes in to rescue the day. It’s quite simple and only takes a few minutes to do and it all starts with your medicine cabinet. Grab a couple of cotton swabs and clean all hair and debris from the upper and lower gum line, rinse with water and you’re done.
How to clean a Frenchie's teeth!
The most important and most obvious way to treat bad breath and prevent oral disease is to brush your dog’s teeth. What isn’t obvious, though, is how to do this without getting toothpaste on the walls because your dog refuses to let you do it. To make this easier on yourself and for the future of your Frenchie, start brushing your dog’s teeth at an early age, and get him/her used to it by doing it every day. You can begin by massaging his teeth with your fingers dipped in peanut butter. When he’s ready, introduce a toothbrush with dog-friendly toothpaste on it. There are many kinds of toothbrushes, ranging from rubber finger-sized ones to plastic ones that look similar to a human’s toothbrush. It’s a good idea to try each one to see which works best.
As is the case with brushing human teeth, there is a technique to brushing dog teeth. To start, gently grab the top of his muzzle and lift his upper lip. Brush as many outer teeth as you can by tilting the brush at an angle and using a circular motion. To make the experience positive, reward your Frenchie with a treat or praise him/her if it doesn’t struggle or resist. Then, lift the upper jaw and brush the molars and insides of his teeth. If your French Bulldog starts to resist, keep your hand on the muzzle and wait until he/she stops to proceed. Do not force it. Repeat this process regularly, ideally on a daily basis, but at least several times a week!
It is so important to acknowledge that brushing teeth is only one part of preventative oral health. At home, regularly inspect your Frenchie’s gums for signs of disease. Remember that healthy gums are pink and not swollen. If you see redness, bleeding, swelling, growths, or tumors, or if you notice your dog drooling more, he might have a serious health problem and should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. During your dog’s annual check-up, have your vet inspect your dog’s teeth, and schedule a deep cleaning if necessary.
While bad breath may seem funny, in reality it is not a laughing matter, especially for French Bulldogs. Because of their bone structure, their teeth tend to crowd more, increasing the risk of infection. There is also a connection between oral health and overall health, so cleaning your Frenchie’s teeth is not just about giving him a pretty smile; it could prolong his/her life.
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