uHOW TO
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Oral hygiene is a very important aspect of our
pet's overall wellbeing. Poor dental health can
lead to a buildup of plaque and tartar on the
teeth resulting in mouth pain, inflamed gums,
tooth decay, tooth infections or abscess and/or
tooth loss. It can also be a contributing factor
to much more serious health conditions and
affect the heart, kidney, liver and joints.
Brushing your dog's teeth is one way to help
prevent a build-up of plaque and tartar.
Here are some tips for cleaning their teeth:
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Start young. The younger the dog is when
you start brushing their teeth the easier it will
be. They will be used to it and understand it as
just a part of the normal grooming routine.
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Start out slow. First get your dog used to
having their mouth, lips, teeth and gums being
touched. Once they are comfortable having
their mouth and teeth touched then you can
introduce a brush.
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Find a toothbrush that you and your dog
like. There are specially designed doggy tooth
brushes to suit a dog's mouth. There are also
finger brushes that slip over your finger for
you to then brush their teeth.
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Choose a toothpaste. There are toothpastes
available for dog's in a variety of flavours to
make the experience more rewarding for your
dog. You can also make your own doggy
toothpaste with safe ingredients but never use
human toothpaste.
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Start by brushing just one or two teeth and
continue to increase the amount of brushing
time each day. Your aim is to brush their teeth
for about two minutes a day. Brush all surfaces
of the teeth and along the gum line to remove
daily plaque build-up.
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Be gentle. Brush their teeth by making small
circles with gentle pressure.
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Reward your dog. Use treats for positive
reinforcement of good behaviour. This is
important during the training stage and at
each step that they let you do.
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Make the experience a positive one with
calm and happy talk.
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Be safe. Being that your fingers and hands are
in and around your dog's mouth there is always
a chance you could be bitten. Respect your
dog's limits and read the signs they give you
that they have had enough or not enjoying it.
It is important to remember that not all dogs
are going to like or even allow you to brush
their teeth. Some dog's will eventually get
used to it and allow it but some dog's may
never let you.
BRUSHING
your dog's
teeth
