Dogs love to get their teeth brushed, if you approach it correctly!
Dental care for your dog should be similar to how we treat our own teeth. Would you consider relying on eating a baguette to clean your teeth daily? No? Then why do you think Milk Bones will do the trick on your dog’s teeth?
Daily bacteria becomes plaque in 24 hours. If plaque isn’t removed daily, it becomes tartar, which is still easy enough to remove with a scaler. You can buy these at a dog show, pet store or ask your dentist for one. They discard older ones all the time.
The best way to avoid tartar build up is to brush daily, or as close to that as you can get!
I’ve been brushing & scaling my dogs teeth for as long as I can remember. It’s always a feel good moment when we go to our veterinarian & he says, Wow! Your dog’s teeth look great How old is she?
This even happened with my Vanity when she was 14!
Start with a toothpaste specifically formulated for dogs, or toothpaste by Tom’s of Maine. Toothpaste for dogs comes in several palatable flavors, such as Vanilla, Poultry & Peanut Butter! Do not use toothpaste for humans, as it can upset a dogs’ digestive system.
Start with a small amount of toothpaste on your finger & make it fun! You can also use a “finger tooth-brush”. Ideally, you will want to graduate to a child’s spinbrush. Start using without the “spin” feature & use the motor while feeding treats to get your dog used to the sound, then use on teeth for a second & then brush without the motor. Gradually increase the time, using the spin feature until you can brush without scaring your dog with the sound or vibration.
But if you are diligent, & make this a pleasant routine, your dog will have beautiful & fresh breath…ready for that close-up, or just a smooch!