How Often Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
| Ideally, just like for you and me, you should brush your dog’s teeth every day, even twice daily. For some pet owners, this may prove to be too difficult so you should aim to do it as often as possible. It also important to look after other factors that affect your dog’s oral health. Let’s look into just how often brushing is needed for your dog. |
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Your dog’s teeth and you
The canines of your canine companion are as vulnerable to dental diseases and infections as for us humans.
Raising pets leads to a close companionship. You grow together, you learn to live with each other’s good and bad habits. When one is hurt, the other feels the pain, when one is sick, the other is disturbed.
They are not just pets, they become family.
As such, it is very important to maintain good health and hygiene habits for both yourself and your pet.
These include regular practices including grooming, washing, trimming and brushing.
But have you ever considered your dog’s dental hygiene?
Importance of brushing your dog’s teeth
For the purposes of this post, we are going to look at why brushing your dog’s teeth is important and how often should you brush your dog’s teeth.
Recommended teeth care for your dog includes regularly brushing their teeth at home and taking them to a vet for professional cleaning.
As for us, brushing your dog’s teeth is a great way to keep their teeth clean and their smile shiny and healthy.
Plaque and tartar build up in our pet’s mouths the same way that it does in our own. This causes dental problems like inflamed gums, bad breath and tooth decay. Over time, pain or serious infections can develop and teeth may fall out.
There is also strong evidence to suggest that poor dental health can a have a negative impact on your dog’s life in general and is associated with earlier mortality.
Yes, dental health has an effect on your dog’s lifespan.
While your dog might be less concerned about impressing others with dazzle bouncing off its white teeth, this is why you need to be.
So how often should we clean dog’s teeth?
How often should I brush my dog’s teeth?
Now that we know the importance of brushing your dog’s teeth, the question still remains, “How often should I brush them?”
Vets recommend twice daily brushing if possible. Daily would be great and if not, then as often as you can, maybe a few times per week.
We all know we should brush their teeth. It’s not that we don’t want to. We mean to do it.
Unfortunately it’s a task that often falls through the cracks. Sometimes, the time needed to set aside is the problem.
Other times, your dog may not be a fan of the process. How can we ease the process?
Tips for brushing your dog’s teeth
Firstly, select a specific dog toothbrush from your pet store or vet. Make sure you store it separate from the toothbrushes of your flatmates or family. Just like for humans, changing the toothbrush regularly is important as well.
Remember NOT to use human toothpaste for your dog. The substances in human toothpaste are often toxic to your dog.
Special dog toothpastes are available, yummy for your dog (for example with chicken or beef flavours) and highly effective.
When you are just starting out, do not reach for the brush straight away.
Take it easy. Get your pet into a comfy position. Once you can safely and comfortably put your fingers in their mouth (which may take a few days), you can use some gauze to spread a bit of toothpaste on their teeth.
Next up, slowly grab the brush and use a 45 degree angle to brush gently in circles.
Go through the steps above gradually. Have some treats ready and cuddles aplenty. It may take several weeks to get your dog to go through this process but it will be worth it.
Remember, small steps. It will work.
Alternatives to brushing
While there is nothing that will quite replace regular brushing and regular vet cleaning, here are some other suggestions to improve your dog’s dental health if brushing is basically not an option or a huge hassle.
Ask your vet supply store about other dog dental care products that will help to keep their mouth healthy. Examples include dental chews, food or water additives.
Giving your dog raw bones weekly is known to reduce build up of plaque.
Dry dental dog food also helps to roughly clean off the bacteria and food particles. Talk to your veterinarian if you are unsure which alternative to try.
Another important aspect of dental care for dogs are regular dental vet check ups and cleaning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, do your best to make brushing your dog’s teeth as enjoyable an experience as possible. As a dutiful and responsible pet owner, the liability of taking care of your pet’s emotional and physical wellbeing falls squarely on your shoulder.
Make sure to give your adorable pup the best life in your home by maintaining healthy habits for them. That includes frequent tooth brushing using the right tools for the job and being patient.
Do not hesitate to reach out to your vet if are experiencing any problems.
How often do you brush your dog’s teeth?
Have I missed something you find useful or helps to make toothbrushing easier for your pet?
Let me know below.
References
1. Australian Veterinary Association – Library and Resources, accessed September 2020, available here
2. “Your Dog’s Teeth: Toothaches and Other Problems“, Pets WebMD, accessed September 2020, available here
3. “Dog Grooming“, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, accessed 10 September 2020, available here
The text written in this article about dog grooming and dental care is meant for general informational purposes only and it is not to be used in any way as or to replace vet or dental advice. Refer to your vet or pet specialist for all oral and general care advice. Ensure you agree with the terms of “How Often Should” website before reading.
