Any Tips on Brushing My Dog's Teeth?

Question:
How can I get my dog to stay calm while brushing his teeth what is the best way?

A:  Brushing the teeth on some dogs is hard!  I would recommend trying some other ways of keeping those chompers clean.

It is very difficult to brush some dog's teeth.  They like the taste of the toothpaste (CET brand chicken, salmon, or vanilla mint are the best toothpastes on the market for dogs and cats), and they will constantly try to lick it. 

Do you have a fingerbrush?  The CET kit comes with a finger brush and a long toothbrush with a big and small head.  Start with a fingerbrush, getting your finger in the mouth and all around the teeth.  This may take days of practice for your dog to get used to having something else in his/her mouth.  Once he/she is comfortable with the fingerbrush you can try the real toothbrush.

If that isn't working, smear the toothpaste on a rope bone.  The braids in the rope will grind the toothpaste into the teeth and gums in a similar way as brushing (although not quite as accurate).  This method will still work pretty well at keeping those teeth clean.

Also, the Hill's T/D, or tartar control diet, is a fantastic food for cleaning teeth.  The kibble is a big size, and when bit into, the kibble will break tartar off the teeth.  It is a little higher in fat content than the maintenance diet, so watch for portion control.  You can also just use these as treats. (This is what we use in the clinic as treats and dogs love them!).

Happy Brushing!

~Dr. Page Wages

Oberlin Animal Hospital