If so, what was the easiest way to train him/her to sit still and not try to eat the toothbrush? So far I'm thinking it's going to have to be a two person job....
2007-11-28 07:52:19 · 12 answers · asked by Luca's Mom 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The younger you start the better...I've always started them as pups with a finger brush and poultry flavored enzymatic toothpaste.
If it's an older dog, then you're right - It's a 2 person job, one to hold the dog and one to brush...
2007-11-28 07:56:06 · answer #1 · answered by Yo LO! Aussie Grins 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It took a long time to train my dog! Twice a week I brush her teeth-- Wednesday for the bottom teeth and Sunday for the top!
I started out by just putting the toothbrush in her mouth and giving her a treat. Then I would put doggy toothpaste on the brush and put it in her mouth, and give her a treat. Then we started (this is after doing this daily for a week at each step) brushing a two or three teeth and giving her treats until she was okay with that (about two weeks), and then started brushing only the front teeth and working my way to the back (several more weeks). I have gotten to the point now where I can brush her teeth without her closing her jaw tight or trying to eat the paste lol! She knows if she is good she will get a treat at the end.
And my dog STILL tries to eat the toothbrush once in awhile cause she loves the taste of the paste... but it gets better with time :)
2007-11-28 16:11:35 · answer #2 · answered by bpbjess 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Feed your dog RAW meaty bones and you will never have to use a toothbrush. The meat flosses between the teeth and massages the gums while the edible bone scrapes the teeth clean. Depending on the size of your dog this could mean a chicken drumstick or a whole pork neck!! It needs to be large enough that the dog has to work for its dinner!
More than 80% of dogs have periodontal disease due to incorrect and inappropriate diets. This condition can lead to many health effects including rotting teeth and gums, foul breath and organ failure.
*Those big knuckle, shin and marrow bones that are sold for dogs are NOT recommended. These big weight baring bones are likely to crack teeth rather than clean them and usually have little to no meat.
2007-11-28 17:00:05 · answer #3 · answered by Joh 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do brush my dog's teeth. Instead of a regular toothbrush I got a thing that looks like a big rubber thimble with bristles on it. It goes over your finger. I just squeeze some Petrodex enzymatic toothpaste on it and then wipe it down the outsides of her teeth. My dog loves it! I reall don't hav e a problem with it. No need to get all crazy trying to get into every nook and cranny because the toothpaste is enzymatic it spreads over her teeth.
2007-11-28 16:17:14 · answer #4 · answered by anon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The easiest way to get your dog's teeth cleaned is to give them a raw knuckle bone from the butcher's.
Brushing your dog’s teeth is a noble act, but through my personal experience I discovered that I got the same if not better results from letting them chew on raw bones. Raw knuckle bones (the joints) in particular are great because they are soft and still have some tendons and muscle meat attached. They look kind of round like the shape of your fist. These bones clean your dog’s teeth in addition to providing them with a nice oral workout – not to mention a healthy dose of natural calcium.
Raw knuckle bones are soft and allow dogs of all sizes to scrape their teeth into the bone, nicely cleaning food and tartar from their teeth. The meat tissue typically still left on the bones allow for a separate type of chewing, which is natural and necessary for your dog. This is the nibbling and pulling you see your dog do with his front teeth. They will use their front teeth to pull the tissue off the bones which is a great way to clean these teeth – natural flossing, if you will.
2007-11-28 15:58:22 · answer #5 · answered by Aeries 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I've had dogs all my life (I'm 46) and we've never brushed our dogs' teeth. All the dogs we had, growing up, lived well into their late teens, nonetheless. All the dogs I've had as an adult have also lived long, healthy lives, without teeth problems at all.
I make sure and feed them good dry dog food and let them chew on knuckle bones and other chews that help them keep their teeth healthy.
2007-11-28 16:02:41 · answer #6 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i am starting to brush my 8 week old puppies teeth, she likes to bite the toothbrush because she is teething and she thinks its a toy but i just hold her mouth open and let her bite it a little bit but i get the job done. also sometimes i wait until she is sleeping, it's much easier then. that's when i clean her ears too, she hates that!
2007-11-28 16:25:23 · answer #7 · answered by Jasm 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Brushing is a good idea, though it's just one measure you can take to ensure your dog has a healthy and fresh mouth.
Check out the cited article for a number of other tips.
2007-11-28 16:01:45 · answer #8 · answered by leavemealone 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try using your finger to brush your doggie's teeth. They're calmer becasue it not a strange, unfamiliar object in their mouth. I know that it might sound gross, but you won't hurt and irritate your dog (which is what's really important). Trust me, that's how I've brushed my dog Misty's teeth for years...
2007-11-28 16:41:58 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't brush my dogs teeth, it takes too much time, we use a sort of powder that helps to controll plaque
2007-11-28 16:01:44 · answer #10 · answered by ratiefanatic 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋