professional to do it (the one that comes to your house) but they do not anesthesize the pup
he is 2 y/o and i'm a little scared to put him under.
what do u think?
2006-11-20 15:57:57 · 12 answers · asked by chapped lips 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
With my dogs I take them to the vet yearly and have them sedated for a thorough yearly cleaning. The rest of the time I brush their teeth at least monthly with pet toothpaste you can get from any pet store. I've used both the fingertip toothbrush and an angled toothbrush that came with the kit. In my experience, the toothbrush works best. My dogs like the taste of the toothpaste so much they lick constantly and occasionally I have had my finger bitten.
I wouldn't worry about having your dog put under too much. My rottie was (and still is) a handful. He is sedated twice a year for ear cleanings and nail trims (2 things he absolutely hates). He is 7 years old now and has never had a problem with anesthesia. In my opinion, sedating the dog is much easier on both of you and much less stressful for the dog who doesn't know what's going on.
If you have a good vet, they will do a pre-op work-up on your dog which may include blood tests. I would recommend this the first time he is put under, just to check for any underlying problems which may not present on physical exam.
I think yearly teeth cleanings are the absolute minimum you should do. My aunt had a dog that never had it's teeth cleaned, and eventually they almost all had to be pulled. Sad site, poor dog couldn't even keep his tongue in his mouth anymore. Imagine if you didn't visit the dentist for 2 years. Poor oral hygiene is as serious in dogs as it is in humans, teeth can become abcessed and infected and it can become quite serious.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
2006-11-20 19:07:30 · answer #1 · answered by damurray69 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brushing your dog's teeth... OK, I'm a groomer and I have a client who brings her little dog in once a week for a bath, and teeth brushing. Nothing special. She provides me with a battery operated tooth brush and a tube of Chicken and Kidney flavored tooth paste she picked up at PetSmart. I brush the little one's teeth while she's in the tub. Generally speeking, she tries to lick the paste from the brush before I ever get her teeth brushed. It's not a big deal. If you are so inclined, get some and try it. It's not a difficult procedure, just gently hold your dog's chin and lift up a little so that you can see what you're doing. And then, just have at it. Have fun!
2006-11-20 16:14:33 · answer #2 · answered by Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If his teeth are real bad have the vet do them. If they aren't too bad you can do them yourself. I have a small brush that goes over my finger and dog tooth paste. I simply put my finger in the dogs mouth and rub the tooth paste around her teeth. If you do opt to get the vet do it then follow up by doing it on your own so that the dog doesn't have to go through the stress of a professional cleaning.
2006-11-20 16:05:39 · answer #3 · answered by ESPERANZA 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on how your dog acts when handled by strangers. If you dog tends to react strongly, you will need to put it under. If a dog moves during a dental, they could get injured severely.
Veterinary dentals are very easy procedures and there are rarely any issues. Plus it's the most complete dental care you can possibly get which will prevent future issues.
2006-11-20 23:31:03 · answer #4 · answered by bellelvsbeast 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like this activity has never been done with your dog. You could actually start doing it yourself. Before using the brush, you could wrap a cloth around your finger and practice with him this way gently rubbing his gums. Dogs love having their gums rubbed, at least the one's I've known do. If you are not comfortable doing this activity, by all means have a professional do it.
2006-11-20 16:04:53 · answer #5 · answered by Fawnice 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would you go to so much trouble and money?
Surely you know how to use a toothbrush... Get some organic dog-stomach-friendly toothpaste, or do what everyone else does and get him a hard dog-bone to chew on. It has to be hard though, in order to help.
2006-11-20 20:10:49 · answer #6 · answered by brian-upstairs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is a rubber bristle brush that fits on then end of your finger. put some chicken or beef toothpaste on it and let him get to know it. Eventually you will be able to give him a good brushing. I know for my cat i put ascorbic acid (vitamin c) in his water at an appropriate ratio and it worked well in his later years where he was too old for anesthesia.
2006-11-20 16:06:08 · answer #7 · answered by izzy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should take him to the vet because if you try to clean his teeth than he might swallow some toothpaste and I don't think that's good for your dog.
2006-11-20 16:03:11 · answer #8 · answered by koko 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can brush your dogs teeth but I notice that no one suggested t-bone dog biscuits, this might help to keep his breath alittle bit fresher
2006-11-21 07:49:26 · answer #9 · answered by Doug 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he has really bad breath and has plaqe build up i suggest putting him under. my dog is three and i had to put him under. the tooth brush wont help I've tried.
p.s I'm not a good speller lol
2006-11-20 16:03:13 · answer #10 · answered by victoria b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋