Chew Test Are You Supposed to Clean Dog Teeth?
Yes, it would be best if you clean your dog’s teeth regularly. By the age of 3, most dogs begin to show signs of periodontal disease (gum disease). On top of painful gum erosion as well as damaged teeth, an examination of almost 60,000 dog records at Purdue University revealed a correlation between gum and heart diseases. Also, proper doggie dental care at home reduces the risks of gingivitis, bad breath, gum disease.
Training a dog to tolerate teeth cleaning is no small task. It requires a lot of time and patience from both the pet parents and their dogs. That’s why we’ve scoured through online resources and put together a step-by-step guide for you to follow!
Choosing Your First Dog Toothbrush
This is purely trial and error as each dog reacts differently to different types of brushes. Start by talking to your vet on brand and local retailer recommendations. From there you can explore other selection of dog toothbrushes by the same brand or other stocks carried by the vet-recommended retailer. We recommend picking something with soft bristles to start with.
Picking a Tasty Dog Toothpaste
Choosing a toothpaste is easier than a toothbrush, as most manufacturers produce them with flavors that dogs love. Again, we suggest you start by talking to your vet for brand and retailer recommendations. You would most likely be able to get a starting set of both the brush and paste from the vet clinic as well.
How to Clean Dog Teeth
Always consult your vet on how to clean your dog’s teeth before actually doing it. They are professionally trained and can show you the process in detail. Different dog breeds need different techniques. If you insist on giving it a go on your own then follow our quick guide below.
Introduction to Dog Toothbrush and Dog Toothpaste
This can take anywhere between a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on how your dog reacts. Start by placing the dog toothbrush near the eating bowl to get your dog to associate it with good things. Try not to store or hide it away, instead try to have it visible to your dog most of the time. Observe how your dog reacts to it and be ready to intervene if your dog starts playing with it like a toy. You’re trying to get your dog to be comfortable around the toothbrush at this stage.
Before any dental care session make sure that your dog didn’t just eat recently. This is to make sure that they retain interest in rewards. Pick a spot where your dog can feel relaxed. Make sure to sit down in front of your dog. Give your pooch a gentle pet on the head, followed by a scratch on the chin. Then give your dog some treats to calm it down before you begin.
Put a small amount of your selected dog toothpaste on your finger and let your dog lick it off. This helps your dog think of the toothpaste as a treat and dog treats always means happy time! Be aware that you won’t leave the paste around like you do the brush. Your dog will most likely try to gobble up the delicious paste when given the chance.
You know you’re on the right track when your dog gets excited as it sees both brush and paste in your hands. Next, place a little bit of the paste onto your dog toothbrush and have your dog lick it off. It would be a bad idea to start brushing at this point because most dogs would not be used to having their mouths (and the inside of their mouths) handled. Keep letting your dog lick the paste of the brush once or twice a week at the same spot until your furry friend is completely engaged and looks forward to it each time.
Introduction to Mouth Handling
This can take anywhere between a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on your pooch’s reaction. You can’t clean dog teeth without the third (and the hardest) part; training your dog to get used to having their mouth handled. Always have the brush and the paste present whenever you do this. Start with a test to see if your dog is comfortable with this by cleaning your hands and fingers, then lift your dog’s upper lip.
If your pooch won’t stand any of this then you should consult your vet or a dog behaviorist. They will be able to help you with this training even if things get difficult. If your pooch is calm, proceed to gently touch the top row of its teeth and gum. If your dog can tolerate this, immediately praise and give treats. Just like any kind of training, positive reinforcement for desired behavior is the key to success. If your dog won’t have it, consult your vet or a dog behaviorist.
Once your dog is comfortable with having their top teeth and gums handled, you can start on the lower part. Clean your hands and fingers, then lift your dog’s top lip and at the same time lower the bottom lip gently. Touch the bottom teeth and gums just like you did with the top parts. If your dog is steady then immediately praise and deliver that delicious treat! Repeat two to three times a week until your dog is completely still while you rub your finger against its teeth and gums. Once your dog is comfortable with having its gums and teeth handled then you can move on to the last step.
Introduction to Brushing
Put some dog toothpaste on the brush, lift your dog’s top lip, and gently brush the outside of the teeth very slowly. Keep praising your dog if things are going well. It is more important to reach the point where your dog is comfortable having the outside of its teeth brushed. From here you can learn proper brushing techniques from your vet as it can be different for various dog breeds and behaviors. For a more in-depth look at how to clean dog teeth, have a look at the American Kennel Club’s article on the topic.
Don’t Forget Annual Veterinarian Dental Cleaning
It is highly recommended to let your vet perform a thorough oral examination on your dog at least once a year. They are professionally trained to identify, prevent, and treat all sorts of doggie dental problems. Some breeds may need to do this every 6 month as they are more susceptible to periodontal disease.
Your vet can do things that you won’t be able to do at home like removing plaque below the gum line and performing X-rays to check teeth roots. These examinations and the treatments that follow aren’t cheap, but your home doggie dental care will help mitigate that cost and your pooch can keep its healthy shiny canines for years to come.
References:
https://www.allpetsvh.com/site/blog/2022/08/25/dog-dental-care-keeping-teeth-clean
https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2009a/090409GlickmanGumDisease.html
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-brush-dog-teeth/
