Dental care is an important yet often overlooked aspect of grooming your dog.

Here is some basic information backed by the American Veterinary Medical Association regarding dental care:

Most pets start showing signs of periodontal disease by age 3 and increases as they age. ⚠️ Early signs include bad breath, tartar buildup, yellowing teeth, and red and swollen gums.
Dental disease can cause significant and chronic pain in pets. Treatment often requires anesthesia, and is overall stressful for your pet.
Home care is key to preventing tooth disease.
Your dogs teeth should be checked yearly by a veterinarian to catch symptoms and maintain oral health. 🦷

Toothbrushing

Brushing your dog's teeth is the most effective way to prevent periodontal problems. It prevents tartar from building up and can even remove the need for regular cleanings. How often you brush your dog's teeth can vary from daily to once a week, consult your veterinarian if you have any questions about the best routine for your dog's oral care.

Toothpaste

Do not use human toothpaste, your dog wont spit out toothpaste and they will ingest chemicals not meant for consumption. There are safe dog toothpastes, many of which are fun flavors your dog will enjoy.

Other forms of preventative care

TAKE NOTE

Not all dental products are created equal, check with your veterinarian about which toothpastes and/or dental chews you should use!

Step By Step

Introducing your puppy to toothbrushing

Introducing tooth brushing to your puppy will not only help prevent dental issues later in life, it will also make dental care much less stressful when your dog is adult.

- Pick the 🪥 toothbrush/paste best suited for your puppy. If you have any questions, ask your vet to recommend a product for you to use.
- Make sure your puppy has been fed, out to potty, and is not tired.
- Practice handling exercises with your puppy.
  - Holding exercises - sitting on the floor or couch, place your puppy between your legs, facing away from you. Hold your puppy still for a few moments, and don't let them wriggle away, or play bite, just be patient until your puppy relaxes. Practice this until your puppy is comfortable sitting with you and increase amounts of time up to a few minutes.
  - In the holding postion(or otherwise if your puppy will sit still), use a finger to rub your puppy's gums and teeth. They will pull away but be patient, give lots of praise and give it multiple sessions before using a toothbrush.
  - Use a phrase like "time for a toothbrush" ⏱️ while practicing the exercises. Use the same phrase each time. This teaches that toothbrushing is almost a trick or command.
- Use the same concepts as brushing your own teeth. Using small circles, brush the fronts, backs, and sides of both the top and bottom teeth.
- Brushing the insides of the teeth can be a odd sensation for a dog and may take extra sessions to get your puppy comfortable with that area.
- Tons and tons of praise. You can also give treats for initial teaching, but you will want to wean them out as your puppy gets used to the brushing. You want tooth brushing to be as positive experience as possible for you and your puppy.
- Say "ok", “free”, or “were done!" and play with a toy to end the interaction on a happy note. ☀️
- Between brushings, you can use dental treats to prevent tartar buildup.