If you want your furry friend to have a healthy set of teeth, proper dog teeth cleaning is a must! Sure, it may pose a challenge, but your pooch will thank you for it!
Dog Teeth Cleaning Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know
Just like their human counterparts, dogs need proper (and regular) teeth cleaning. Canines can develop tartar and plaque buildup if their teeth are left uncleaned, which can lead to gingivitis! Worse, dental problems can lead to kidney, liver, and heart disease too! Don’t wait for dental problems to arise before taking action and starting the habit of cleaning your dog’s teeth. It will be challenging at first, but it will get easier once your dog gets used to it. Here are five important tips to help you get by:
1. Pick the right dog toothbrush
Dog teeth cleaning may be a new and weird experience for your dog, but your little buddy will get used to it just as it got used to nail trimming. But in order for you to brush your dog’s teeth properly, you will need the right tools, one of which is a dog toothbrush.
Which dog toothbrush should you choose? There are two recommended types of dog toothbrush. The first is the 45-degree angle double-headed toothbrush, which helps you clean the teeth and the gum line at the same time. The other is a toothbrush that fits on your fingertip.
Again, it must be stressed that your dog might not like this new experience, but your goal is to make it a pleasant one nonetheless. Pick a time where your pet can calmly sit down. After a long walk when he’s tired is a perfect example!
Start slow and make sure not to overdo it. If your dog seems agitated, stop. You don’t have to brush your dog’s teeth completely on the first or second try. However, do increase the time every dog teeth cleaning day. And don’t forget positive reinforcement…if your dog did a great job, don’t hesitate to give him a yummy treat! It’s ideal to brush your dog’s teeth every day but if the dog’s mouth is healthy, you can do teeth cleaning three times a week.
2. Get the right dog toothpaste
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Use a dog toothpaste for your precious pooch. Never use a human toothpaste on your dog’s teeth. The fluoride content on human toothpaste is poisonous to dogs. It’s not hard to find a dog toothpaste and once you do, it’s best to buy something that your dog will like, perhaps a dog toothpaste in peanut butter flavor?
Now on those days when you’re in a hurry and cannot do the proper teeth cleaning technique, you can try using dog tooth wipes instead. They can wipe away the dirt from the teeth, but of course, it won’t get rid of the dirt in between the teeth. But still, cleaning with tooth wipes is always better than not cleaning your pet’s teeth at all on those very busy days!
3. Give your dog chew treats and chew toys
Here comes the fun part…for your canine friend that is. Surprisingly, dental chew toys and chew bones helps improve your dog’s dental health! How? The chewing actually assists in removing plaque from a dog’s teeth. Dental chew treats also freshen a dog’s breath.
You can buy all-natural chew treats and synthetic chew bones. If you’re not counting the calories, go for the dental chew treats. On the other hand, if you are, go for the nylon bones that help strengthen your dog’s gums and teeth.
Giving your dog chew treats and toys is a lot more enjoyable than dental teeth cleaning experience for your dog. But, don’t forget that this technique isn’t enough to ensure proper health for your dog’s teeth. You can do this as an alternative on those days where you’re not brushing your dog’s teeth.
4. Go for dry food
A big part of your dog’s dental health is what he eats. I suggest you go for dry dog food instead of soft dog food. The truth is, soft food will easily get stuck in between your dog’s teeth which make it harder to clean and creates tooth decay.
5. Have professional dog teeth cleaning
Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to take your dog to the vet for a dental checkup. The veterinarian will immediately notice signs of dental problems and can treat it right away. A vet can perform professional teeth cleaning on your pooch. But if you’re on a tight budget, you can always learn how to do it yourself. On the other hand, if you prefer to get your dog groomed in the process, bring your little guy to a pet grooming station instead.
When should you bring your dog to the vet? You can get his teeth professionally checked every six to twelve months. This is the best time frame to check for possible dental problems and for those problems to be addressed immediately.
Does your dog smell more than he should? Check out these home remedies from Veterinary Secrets:
A dog’s dental health is very important to ensure the overall health of your pooch. I know, dog teeth cleaning is an additional chore you have to do. But hey, it comes with the territory of being a pet owner! It’s all about being committed to caring for your dog. After all, prevention is better than cure, so you’ll probably want to go the extra mile now than go to painful vet visits when things take a bad turn. I hope these tips help you and your little pal wear a beautiful smile every day!
What’s your experience with dog teeth cleaning? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
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