Pet Dental Care: 3 Tips That Will Make Brushing Your Dog's Teeth An Easier Task
Posted on: 18 January 2016
Regular dental care and the maintenance of dental hygiene is crucial to your dog's health. Most veterinarians recommend starting a tooth-brushing regimen when your pup is about 6 to 9 months old; however, as most pet owners know, brushing your dog's teeth is not going to be an easy task. There's a good chance that you are going to have to wrestle your dog in order to even get close to their teeth, but if you don't, they may develop oral diseases that will have a significantly negative impact on their overall health. Here are 3 tips on how you can get your dog more accustomed to a tooth-brushing regime.
Practice Lifting Your Dog's Lip
Most dogs are not going to be comfortable at first with someone handling their lips or their teeth. You need to set the right expectations early on before you'll even have a chance of successfully brushing their teeth. Whenever you are not too busy, practicing lifting your dog's lips until you can get a good view of their teeth. It may take several tries before you're even successful.
Keep the environment as positive as possible when you are practicing this routine. Always use a cheerful voice, and shower your dog with praise if it doesn't move away.
Start with Your Fingers and Graduate to a Toothbrush
You definitely do not want to go straight to the toothbrush when you first start brushing your dog's teeth. Not only may the toothbrush be uncomfortable, but there's a good chance that your dog simply is not comfortable with having a foreign tool shoved into its mouth. You'll usually have better luck if you start with your fingers. Wrap your index finger in gauze or use a finger toothbrush. Gently rub a small amount of pet toothpaste onto its teeth and gums.
As your dog becomes more and more comfortable with the routine, you can switch from using your fingers to using a toothbrush provided to you by your veterinarian.
Shower Your Dog With Praise and Treats
While brushing your dog's teeth, make sure to shower it with praise. Let it know that you are extremely proud. You'd be surprised at just how far simple praises can go. Keep in mind that your dog wants to please you.
After you have brushed its teeth, there's no harm in giving it a treat. There are plenty of treats that can actually improve your dog's dental health by killing any harmful bacteria that may be hidden in crevices between the teeth or by neutralizing harmful acids that are responsible for causing dental decay and bad breath.
Conclusion
If you regularly brush your dog's teeth, it will enjoy better dental health throughout its entire life. In the event that you are not comfortable with brushing your dog's teeth, most veterinarians offer teeth cleaning services. For more information, consider contacting a professional like those at Clayton Veterinary Associates.
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