6 Dog Dental Care Tips Every Owner Should Know
When was the last time that you paid attention to your dog’s dental health? If you’ve never brushed your pup’s teeth or used a dental wipe, you’re not alone! Today I’m going to share 6 dog dental care tips that every owner should know as well as the secret to getting your dog used to toothbrushing time!
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The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London released a report estimating that periodontal disease would affect over 87% of dogs over the age of three! With an occurrence that high, it only makes sense that we, as responsible dog owners, will take any necessary precautions!
The final post in my home grooming series, today we are going to talk about dog dental care!
If you’ve missed the previous posts, make sure to check them out:
- Groom Your Pets at Home (With Little to No Regrets)
- How to Cut Your Pet’s Nails at Home (Including Tips for Nervous Pets)
- Clean Your Pet’s Ears Safely at Home With These Tips!
Prevent Periodontal Disease and Protect Your Dog’s Health with These 6 Dog Dental Care Tips:
#1 – Don’t Assume Dental Care is A Luxury
Too often dog owners assume that doggy toothbrushes and other cleaning devices are a luxury item for owners who want to go ‘above and beyond’.
Dental care is a necessary part of your dog’s healthcare.
There are cost-effective ways to incorporate dental care for your pup. However, there is no cost-effective way to deal with the medical costs associated with complications of poor dental health!
At the bare minimum, invest in a toothbrush and canine toothpaste.
#2 – Brush Your Dog’s Teeth Daily
You may have to work up to this point while your pup gets used to it, but you should be brushing your dog’s teeth as part of your daily routine.
Dog toothbrushes are specifically designed at a 45-degree angle to make it easier to brush your dog’s teeth. Alternatively, you can purchase a toothbrush that fits over your fingertip if you find that easier.
Make sure that you are using canine toothpaste!
The formulas that we humans use contain a number of ingredients that are either difficult to ingest or toxic for your pup. NEVER use human toothpaste when brushing your dog’s teeth!
#3 – Be Patient and Take Your Time
If this is your first time brushing, don’t expect your dog to be on board right away!
Getting your dog used to the toothbrush can take time.
Start at a young age where possible. If you have a puppy, spend some time each day handling his/her mouth so that your pup gets used to it.
Try turning your finger into a treat by dabbing a small amount of peanut butter or non-fat yogurt on it. Your dog will lick at your finger as you gently rub his/her teeth and gums, associating the process with that positive experience.
When you see that your dog is comfortable with this process, progress to the toothbrush.
Start by only rubbing the visible teeth when you move you move his/her lips aside. Over time, add more teeth to the process.
Don’t forget to reward your pup at the end!
#4 – Try Using Wipes or Pads Between Brushing
Check out the dental care aisle of your favourite pet store, and you will discover that there are a number of pads and wipes marketed specifically for dental care.
These work to wipe away bacteria and food quickly and easily when you don’t have time for a full brushing.
Alternatively, for those who are looking to save a little money, you can wrap a gauze pad around your finger.
Wipe over your dog’s teeth and gums carefully but don’t put too much pressure as this can cause pain and discomfort.
Remember – this is an option for a quick fix between brushing but should not be viewed as an alternative to brushing!
#5 – Give Your Dog Tooth-Friendly Chews and Toys
One of the best ways to promote good dental health between brushings and vet visits is to provide your dog with a good chew.
The process of chewing on natural options like a knucklebone or dental-friendly toys will help scrape away any plaque or dirt that has built up on your dog’s teeth.
Dental-friendly toys are made from rubber or nylon with a rough or textured surface.
Avoid rawhide, harder bones (like those from steak or ribs), small toys that can be swallowed, or rock-hard chew toys with no ‘give’. These all present health risks ranging from choking hazards to fracturing your dog’s teeth.
#6 – Don’t Skip Vet Appointments
You wouldn’t skip your own dental appointments, so why would you skip your dogs?
Your pup’s annual veterinary appointments give the professionals an opportunity to examine your dog’s teeth for any signs of concern and point out any recommendations moving forward.
This is an important opportunity to catch conditions that may otherwise be overlooked.
If you have any concerns regarding your pet’s dental health, make sure to keep your vet informed! This includes visible damage on your dog’s teeth, sudden bad breath, excessive drooling, bleeding at the gums, or any other signs of pain or discomfort surrounding his/her mouth.
It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Dogs are masters of hiding dental issues, and many owners assume if their pup is eating fine, there is nothing to be worried about.
However, your dog’s natural instincts will kick in often leading him/her to eat even if it is uncomfortable in order to avoid starvation.
If you have any concerns or suspicions, pick up the phone! Remember, your veterinarian has likely heard it all before!
Did I miss your go-to dog dental care tips? If so, I would love to hear them! Feel free to share your tips, tricks, and advice in the comments below.
our dog has never had its teeth cleaned. We just give him chew bars. Thanks for letting me know that this is something that we actually need to look at.
It’s definitely something to keep an eye on. Dental chews do work, but often leave patches of plaque behind. That’s where a good brushing does wonders.
Dental care is so important! Thanks for the tips!
xoxo
Lovely
http://mynameislovely.com
Thank you!
I love this post! Especially since I am a dental hygienist too!
So many people overlook the importance of this!
Oh wow! Even dogs need to have their teeth health checked and taken care of. It would scare me to brush any dog’s teeth. But I’m no pet owner though.
When you form a connection with your dog, it becomes easier. You build a connection and trust with one another. As long as you take the time to let your dog get used to you handling their muzzle, any dog owner can do it!
This is some of the best advice dog owners could get! One of my dogs has had serious dental issues, and at 14 just had 11 more teeth removed at the beginning of last week. I wish I would have understood when he was a puppy how much doing these things consistently was extremely important for his health. More important than just avoiding him having bad breath, I feel bad for him that he must have had a lot of daily pain that could have been prevented! I hope everyone who reads this takes your advice.
Poor guy but he’s clearly in good hands if you’re taking all these steps to give him relief! My girl is 12 and we’re lucky, she’s got some staining to her teeth but outside of that, she’s still going strong. She’s a bit of a brat when it comes to brushing her teeth so we just do the best that we can with her lol
These are much needed tips for my two pups. As they get older their breath just gets worse. I will definitely be doing more dental chews.
That’s definitely something to keep an eye on!
This is great advice for cleaning our pups’ teeth from home. Do recommend a toothpaste or any of the dog formulas fine?
I am personally a fan of the Virbac toothpaste that I included in my Amazon recommendations. That specific link is for their mint formula, but they also have other flavours if your pup prefers including seafood and beef. It’s formulated not only to remove plaque and grime, but it helps to prevent plaque build-up moving forward.
It’s really interesting that some pet owners see tooth care as essential for themselves but over the top when it comes to pets. Dogs are people too, right?
Exactly! Just like a human tooth infection can quickly become a serious health issue, so too can a dog’s tooth infection. We need to recognize that it’s just as important to take care of our pup’s teeth!
I wasn’t aware of dental hygiene for animals prior to getting my cats. Now we try to clean her teeth as often as possible but she’s so temperamental. The baby of the house is EVEN WORSE!
Hopefully, some of these tips can work for us as well.
I have one cat that HATES it and fights me on it every time. We’ve done everything possible to get her used to it, but she’s simply got 0 interest. At this point, I’m just trying to make the process as quick and painless as possible for her each time.
Thank you for the detailed information on dental care for dogs. Will share this with my brother who has a beautiful fur baby.
Thank you for sharing!
Dental health is very important for dogs! Dont consider it a luxury..
It really is!
I am so guilty of this. My vet yells at me all the time because I don’t brush my dog’s teeth often enough. Thank you for the wonderful tips on keeping your dog’s teeth healthy. He may hate me doing it, but I think I need to get to it.
That’s the trick – Our dogs don’t hate it, but they definitely don’t get excited by the notion of having it done. That being said, it needs to happen. we just make sure to reward them with a treat and a lot of praise afterward.
Such an important post! I definitely agree that a lot of owners see dental as a luxury. I have such a hard time with Hugo’s teeth. He’ll let me brush them (kind of) with doggy toothpaste. But doggy toothpaste gives him a bad stomach. The vet said try with just water but he tries to bite/ does not cooperate at all without the ‘nice’ toothpaste. It’s an ongoing battle! I might have to give in and get him a professional clean eventually x
Sophie
Are you able to use just a tiny, tiny bit of the toothpaste, just enough to give the taste, and see if that maybe is subtle enough to prevent stomach issues?
Thank you for your efforts!
Personally i prefer tooth-friendly toys and chews as they are very practical especially for big families (more than 2 dogs)
We definitely keep a few dental-friendly toys around. They do a great job with our pups to help us keep up their care!
Wow….its amazing….Dogs are also humans as we are they need care too……but it also have some fear to brush a dog’s teeth…..But these tips are really very important and beneficial…..
If you’ve developed a relationship with your dog and focus on training, there is no need to fear brushing their teeth. I can stick my hand in both of my dog’s mouths without any concerns. We are part of their ‘pack’ and they want to protect us and keep us safe, not harm us.
We have a doggIe toothbrush, it’s been a while since we’ve used it on Oscar but will have to dig it out now I’ve read your post. Thank you for sharing!
It’s one of those dog care topics that most pet owners know in the back of our minds but often overlook just how important it is.
I have recently invested in a finger tooth brush for my dog – she’s really small and actual toothbrushes were too big for her mouth. Dog breath is a thing of the past now I can be more thorough.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
The finger toothbrushes are SO helpful when trying to navigate a smaller mouth! Our pups are both larger, so a standard dog toothbrush works great in our house.
Love this, so helpful – will send this to my sister as she’s in charge of our family dog back home!
Jessica & James
Thank you!
Looking after your dog’s teeth is so important! An old friend of mine had a dog, he wasn’t old and he got a tooth infection and died from it within a week because it spread. It was so sad. My dog had a tooth out a few months ago but luckily has pretty good teeth. He hates having them brushed though!
Yes, a tooth infection can quickly turn into a serious health concern!
Hi, thanks for sharing this helpful tips. I have a dog so I know what are you talking about. Take care of dog dental care! – Paolo
Thank you for reading! It’s definitely an important topic!
Dog’s breath can be really bad, I know that much. Back in my childhood years I think we used special chew treats to try and keep our dogs teeth and breath nice. I don’t remember doing anything else for them though, but that was the 80s/90s
I’ve often wondered how animals keep there teeth in good shape in the wild, even humans before toothpaste and toothbrushes
A lot of animals in the wild are able to maintain minimal dental care simply through the process of chewing things. For example, wild dogs will chew on the bones of their prey which will help to scrape the plaque off their teeth.
Dental care is really important I make sure to my little jack Russell’s teeth are looked after! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
It is! Just look at how much discomfort a single tooth infection can cause us – now imagine being an animal that can’t tell you that.
I definitely need to start brushing my old girl’s teeth. Her breath is totally foul. I was good about it for a while, but I felt like it wasn’t helping her breath so I stopped. Maybe it’s time to start again.
Ours have pretty nasty breath at times too, however, that’s largely due to the fact that they eat a seafood based diet. She’s allergic to a million things, so finding a food that worked for her was important – we just have to accept the consequences with their breath haha!
My mum always brushes her dog’s teeth! It’s so important! Very well written post
Thank you!
Thanks for the tips! My dog is about 1.5 years old now and I’ve been wondering about her teeth care. The vet has never mentioned it. She loves yogurt (our vet recommended it for her sensitive tummy), so I think that method will be a good into to tooth brushing for her!
If she loves it, that’s a great way to work on it! Peanut butter was the big one in our house lol