Ear and tooth care for your Brussels Griffon is another important part of the grooming process. Check your Griffon’s teeth from the side; never try to open his mouth from the front, because it cuts off his breathing and will cause him to panic.
Gently lift the gum on the side and look for loose or infected teeth. For a puppy of around six months of age, check to see that no baby teeth have been retained.
The healthiest thing for a dog’s teeth is to brush them with a toothbrush and toothpaste, just as you do with your teeth. However, since their muzzles are so short, Brussels Griffons object more than most dogs to any fussing with their mouths.
Putting any pressure on the side of his muzzle cuts off the air to his lungs, and he’ll fight to get free because he can’t breathe. An alternative is to rub gauze over the teeth to clean them. Griffons get a buildup of plaque on their teeth just as humans do, which leads to gum disease.
The only way to thoroughly clean a Griffon’s teeth is when he is sedated on a veterinarian’s surgery table. Like all toy dogs, Griffons tend to lose their teeth as they get older. Give him chews and toys designed to inhibit tartar and plaque.
Griffon Tooth Troubles
All dogs have 42 teeth. Brachycephalic dogs have less space to fit them in, meaning that the teeth are crowded and sometimes grow in at odd angles. Food debris is more easily trapped in their teeth, which leads to gum disease at a younger age.
Like most toy dogs, Griffons lose their teeth, as they grow older, even with the best dental care. The good news is that they adapt to the lack of teeth very easily. They don’t need special food. Their gums are hard, and they can still chew amazingly well.
Check your Brussels Griffon when he is about six months old to see if he has a “double” set of canines, which means that the new ones managed to grow in without the baby teeth falling out. The veterinarian may need to remove the baby teeth.
Ear Care for Griffons
Cropped or uncropped, the ears need attention. Use a small amount of hydrogen peroxide or an ear-cleansing solution on a cotton tip to swab the inside of the ear. If there is a buildup of dark or red wax and a bad smell, consult a veterinarian.
A dog with an ear infection is uncomfortable. He will constantly scratch his ears and shake his head. But his methods won’t work. It is up to you to treat the infection.
The most common source of ear trouble is ear mites. Symptoms are a reddish or dark brown discharge and an odor. Sometimes ear mites will create an environment within the ear canal that leads to a secondary infection with bacteria and yeast. The veterinarian needs to examine the dog and prescribe the correct medication. He may need to flush the ear.
There are several over-the-counter drugs for ear mites, but they do not get rid of the egg cycle, so it’s necessary to use them for thirty days in order to eradicate the mites. Veterinary prescription medications work at every stage, so treatment is a lot quicker.
It is important to get the medication deep into the ear canal. The dog’s external ear canal is L-shaped. To medicate, gently pull the ear flap to open the ear and put in a small amount of medication. Then use your fingers to massage the ear around the base. This helps the medication to get deeper into the ear.