Dental Care for your Akita If the thought of brushing your akita�s teeth repulses you, consider this: how many days would go without brushing your teeth? It�s a basic health decision that�s tantamount depriving your akita�s health if proper routine home care is neglected. Chow Chows have very unusual mouths. When they are born they look normal enough. However, by the age of about 8 weeks, their gums and tongues go from pink to an odd shade of bluish-black. Aside from removing plaque from your akita�s mouth, here are a few facts and tidbit about your akita�s teeth: The cartoon character, Scooby Doo, was a great dane. Scooby Doo is well known for being constantly willing to eat anything and everything. In reality, a great dane can indeed eat a lot of food. In fact, they can eat up to 8 � pounds a day! *Brushing your canine�s teeth on a regular basis represents exceptional preventative care. It not only protects your akita from developing gingivitis but it helps defend against other serious problems. An American foxhound became one of the most amazing mothers in the dog world when she set a record for the largest litter of puppies in 1944. She had not one, not two, not even ten, but twenty-three puppies! *Various studies depict that hard kibbles are moderately beneficial at preventing plaque from accumulating on your akita�s teeth. Paul McCartney, of Beatles fame, was very fond of his shetland sheepdog. In fact, at the end of the song "A Day in the Life" Mr. McCartney inserted an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, for his shetland sheepdog. *A number of veterinary dentist-approved DOG foods/treats have been tested and found to prevent canines from developing substantial masses of plaque and tartar build-up. Here is a list of DOG foods and treats commonly recommended by veterinarians: People are always taking their Yorkshire terriers to the groomer. Why? Well, Yorkshire terriers can grow hair up to 2 feet in length! Considering that they are nowhere near two feet tall, this makes regular grooming a must! *Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Diet *Science Diet Oral Care Diet *Friskies Cheweez Beefhide Treats *Iams Chunk Dental Defense Diet *Greenies� Edible Treats (Petite, Large Regular, and Jumbo sizes) *Del Monte Tartar Check� DOG Biscuit (Small and Large sizes) *Hill's, Prescription Diet Canine (Original and Small Bites) Chow Chows have very unusual mouths. When they are born they look normal enough. However, by the age of about 8 weeks, their gums and tongues go from pink to an odd shade of bluish-black. Shop for DOG foods and treats with a Veterinary Oral Health's Council seal of acceptance. Many people will swear that they own a golden labrador. The problem is that golden labradors do not exist! There is no purebred dog called a golden lab. The dog is probably either a golden retriever or a labrador retriever. Another easy way to combat plaque from developing on your akita�s teeth is through toys. Certain DOG toys such as Plaque Attacker dental toys work to prevent plaque build-up. Rawhide chips, rope toys, and other toys that indicate plaque prevention maybe helpful for your akita. These toys can be found for up to 75 percent of at http://www.scrooby.com In the original 101 Dalmatians movie, Pongo has 72 spots, Perdita has 68 and each of the puppies has 32. Real dalmations have unique numbers and patterns of spots, almost like a human beigns fingerprint. Dog care tip: Never use abrasive or toys with the ability to wear down your canine�s teeth. Not all DOGS should be given toys for plaque prevention � particularly the perpetual chewers and biters. The bedlington terrier, a large, unique looking breed, is often described as looking like a lamb on a leash. This is probably because it has fur with a wooly texture. As a result of this fur type, the bedlington does not shed.