Brushing Your Pet's Teeth

It can be difficult to teach a dog how to have its teeth brushed, especially older dogs who have had dental pain in the past. Below are some suggestions to help you help your pet have good oral hygiene.

Make It a Positive Experience!

Before you even try to brush your pet's teeth, take the toothbrush and push it into a wet food or a soft treat you already feed your pet. Allow your pet to eat the food off the brush while you DO NOTHING. Once they are used to the routine of sitting and eating the food off the brush, you can slowly start to turn it around and brush the front teeth while they eat. In a couple of months with small steps forward, hopefully you will be able to brush all the way to the back, inside and outside!

Do Not Brush Painful Mouths!

If your pet has red gums, bad breath, or heavy tartar, consider booking your pet for an oral examination or bring it up when you book your vaccine appointment. Sometimes a dental cleaning +/- tooth extraction needs to happen before brushing can happen. Wait 5 days after dental surgery to begin the brushing process.

Elevate Your Hygiene with Doggy Toothpaste!

While the brushing action is the most important part of tartar control, using doggy toothpaste can improve the results.

Look for the VOHC Accepted Stamp on Dental Products!

The Veterinary Oral Health Council evaluates the efficacy of dental products. If they have evidence that a product decreases tartar accumulation, they will give it a stamp of approval.