Dear Pearly: Periodontal disease in dogs is very common. People just don’t have the time or patience to clean their dog’s teeth on a daily basis. It is hard to get a puppy to stay still and introduce a toothbrush and paste and not make a big mess. They want to play with the toothbrush and spit out the toothpaste in the beginning.

If you have the time and patience to create a great bonding experience with your dog with daily grooming and teeth brushing that is wonderful. But for the rest of us who work long hours, run errands and have families to take care of dental hygiene is low on the to do list.

It appears your beagle likes to put soft things in her mouth, which doesn’t do much to prevent tartar build up on the teeth and along the gum line. In addition, chewing on branches, especially from pine trees, might be staining her teeth with some sap or other organic material from stuff in the yard.

Smile – There’s a Solution

The best way to keep your dog’s smile clean and white is through prevention and I have just discovered the best product. It’s called Oravet. This plaque prevention system is wonderful. You take your dog to the vet for a complete cleaning and then they apply this gel onto the teeth and gum line that creates a barrier on the teeth that won’t allow bacteria to stick and create plaque and tartar.

Two weeks after the initial application, you only have to reapply the gel once a week with an easy-to-use swab applicator. This to me works much better than brushing and scraping. Just remember after the initial application to bring your dog home and let her rest for a while. This type of dental cleaning requires the dog to be anesthetized and will not get any food or water for a while after she comes home. She will also be a little wobbly. Don’t give her any treats or food for several hours while the gel sets and she recovers from the drugs. In no time you’ll be enjoying a happy dog with a white smile.

Visit the Merial, the makers of Oravet at its website at http://www.oravet.com.

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

 After your fill of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and while you are waiting for the turkey to finish cooking, why not tune into the “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®” which will spotlight conformation judging as the centerpiece of a celebration of the world of canines.

A huge rating success for the second consecutive year with a total audience of 20 million, last year’s event was by far the most widely-viewed single telecast (NBC) of a dog show in television history. The dog show takes place during a four-day cluster of dog shows hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia November 11-14 at the Fort Washington Expo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

The Saturday, Nov. 13, event will be captured for NBC network broadcast on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25 at noon, following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

At least 2,000 canines among 140-plus AKC recognized breeds, including many of America’s elite show dogs, owners and handlers competing for Breed, Group and Best in Show honors.

The “National Dog Show Presented by Purina®” is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia at its annual competition, which is sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Kennel Club of Philadelphia staged its first show in 1879.

Lisa Peterson, a longtime breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Manager of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Reach her at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.