How to brush your dog's teeth at home

Often dogs are so firmly included in our lives that they become equivalent family members. And the care of their health and hygiene is not in last place. We regularly clean and bathe our dog, cut its claws, vaccinate it, take it to the vet. But often, many owners forget about one of the main procedures - brushing their teeth.

Why should a dog brush their teeth

Previously, when animals ate solid food, they did not need to brush their teeth. But in the modern world, when dry food and soft products from the human table came to replace bones and raw meat, the problem of dental health is becoming increasingly important. Dog owners now and then turn to veterinarians with various diseases of the oral cavity - caries, tartar, plaque, inflammation of the gums. That is why the teeth need to be cleaned on time. Of course, the dog does not need to brush its teeth twice a day, but there should be at least three cleanings per week.

Regular brushing your dog’s teeth will keep your teeth and gums healthy.This will protect your pet from certain diseases of the digestive tract. In addition, brushing your teeth will help rid the dog of unpleasant smell from the mouth.

In addition to the usual cleaning the dog must be led to the vet at least once a year to remove tartar. Ultrasonic stone removal is a painless procedure that many dogs tolerate with ease. The exceptions are large breeds of dogs, for brushing whose teeth one has to do general anesthesia.

To accustom the dog to cleaning is from an early age. Up to three months, while the dog’s teeth are milky, they can be cleaned only with a brush, without a paste. After six months, the dog needs regular brushing and brushing. If you do not brush your teeth, it can lead to loosening and even loss of teeth. This is especially true for dwarf breeds - Chihuahua, Toy Terrier and others. The owner can determine the presence of problems in the oral cavity of the dog by its behavior - the dog reluctantly takes food, loses its appetite or refuses to eat at all. In advanced cases, a fistula or abscess may occur in the oral cavity, leading to fever and even death of the animal.

That is why brushing your teeth is a serious procedure that should not be neglected.

How to brush your dog's teeth

If possible, the dog should start brushing its teeth in its infancy. However, if your dog is already old enough - this is not a reason to refuse the procedure.

1. First you need to show your pet that the procedure is not dangerous and it does not bring any pain. To do this, wrap a piece of cloth on your finger and soak it in chicken or beef broth. This is done to ensure that the dog was "tasty" and he did not feel the extraneous taste and smell.
2. Pinch the dog between your knees tightly, but not very hard. With one hand, lift the wings (the lips hanging down the sides), and with the other pass the cloth in the teeth. In this case, you can repeat a certain command, for example - “Clean”. Try not to touch the gum, so that the pet does not hurt and is uncomfortable.
3. After that, do not forget to praise the dog and treat him to your favorite delicacy.
4. When the dog gets used, and will not be afraid, you can change a piece of cloth to a special brush and paste. Human hygiene products cannot be used.The anatomical features of the dog’s mouth do not allow the use of a human brush - it will not clear the fangs and may damage the gums. Paste for people can also not be used, because it contains fluoride, harmful to dogs. In addition, most of the paste gets into the esophagus, because the dog does not know how to rinse the mouth.
5. A special brush and paste can be purchased at a veterinary store or a pharmacy. The brush can be short and wide, or it can be a special convenient rubber fingertip. The principle of brushing is similar to brushing a person’s teeth. Apply a little paste to the brush, lift the flakes and carefully but carefully clean the animal's fangs on both sides. After that, you can offer the dog to drink.
6. If you do not have special tools at hand, you can use a children's toothbrush (with soft bristles, rounded edges and a floating head) and folk recipes. To get rid of plaque on the teeth of the animal will help tomato paste or strawberry juice. In their composition there are special acids that destroy plaque and tartar. Simply apply a little paste or juice on a cotton pad and gently wipe your pet's fangs.
7. Another household toothbrush composition is aloe juice, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Mix peroxide and juice in equal proportions. Add baking soda to make a creamy mass. Apply the prepared tool on a piece of gauze and wipe the dog's teeth with it.

Brushing your teeth is not so difficult, however some dogs absolutely refuse this procedure. What to do in this case?

How to replace teeth brushing

If your pet does not allow him to brush his teeth, and you do not want to subject him to general anesthesia (he is not so safe), then you need to use alternative means of hygiene.

Veterinary stores sell special sticks and bones that can resist the formation of plaque and stone. It is enough just to bite them to clean your teeth from all sides. Pets usually gnaw hard chopsticks with pleasure, because they are made with different tastes - meat, fish, chicken.

On sale today there is a dental spray. If the dog does not allow brushing his teeth, pet will allow him to sprinkle on them.The spray corrodes the formation of salts and protects the oral cavity from germs.

With age, the dog's tendency to the formation of plaque increases, so pets over the years increasingly need to be cleaned. Do not neglect this procedure if you want your pet to live a long, healthy and happy life!

Video: what and how to brush the teeth of a dog