Do you brush your dog's teeth?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| We have a 7 month old puppy and are first time dog owners. I've heard conflicting reports on whether you are supposed to brush their teeth. Do you do this? How often? I worry about the astronomical cost of dog dental care and would rather take preventive measures if possible... (Also have no idea how often their teeth need professional cleaning). Advice welcome! |
Anonymous
| No I don't. But r I eally should. I did it with my previous dogs and I do feel it helped. |
Anonymous
| Are you supposed to do that? How in the world would you get a dog to let you brush their teeth? |
Anonymous
| I give him dental sticks and have the vet clean his teeth once a year. |
Anonymous
| I brush my Maltese's teeth once a week. She hates me for a few seconds but they have dental issues and I'm really sparing her from further pain and trauma down the road. |
Anonymous
| Yes. She gets a denta-bone each night, but I brush twice a week. She sits next to me, I put one arm around her, and shove her toothbrush (which slides over my finger like a finger-glove with bristles on the end) into her mouth. She does not enjoy it but doesn't growl or try to bite, and is VERY happy and excited when it's over. She jumps around wagging like, "Did ya see?! Did ya SEE how good a job I did putting up with you?" |
Anonymous
| You should brush your dog's teeth, but it's really difficult. I've never been able to succeed in doing it. |
Anonymous
We have an infant tooth bush and dog toothpaste. I wet the brush and put on the toothpaste. Just like a kid. He sits and I work in the mouth. Dog also gets greenies, hard biscuits, antler, white bones. Male dog who weighs just under 100 pounds. Started doing it when he was a baby. It's no big deal. Also gets dry kibble and some people food. |
Anonymous
| right now he has vanilla mint which smells better than the chicken |
Anonymous
| I brush my dog's teeth at least once/ week, more if I remember. |
Anonymous
|
Yes but not very often. She was a rescue - adopted around 1.5 years old and I've had her for two years. Her teeth were REALLY bad when I got her due to poor diet and negligence. I did the full anesthetic cleaning and am trying to avoid it anytime soon bc it's expensive and also an unnecessary risk IMO. New vet told me that brushing will help prevent new tartar buildup but not reduce what's already there. Ideally I will brush 2-3x per week to stave off the full cleaning for another couple of years.
|
Anonymous
Yes, daily. Also CET chews daily. I also have a male just under a 100 pounds. No problem 
|
Anonymous
|
It's easy *in the end* but like all things that babies and animals don't understand, what can be challenging is being gently persistent enough to get them to accept the routine and that feeling in their mouth. So you get there little by little. Week one: work daily on opening up one side of their jaws with your fingers. Week 2, other side. Week 3, actually open the jaws and touch the teeth. Week 4, see if you can brush for a few seconds. Always use dog toothpaste, ours is not good for them. |
Anonymous
| No. I adopted him he was 2 and he did not tolerate it. With a puppy you can get them used to it. It's a good habit to follow. |
Anonymous
| No, I don't. i should though. |