Paws and Prayers Rescue Blog

Have you ever gotten up in the morning and had your mouth feel “icky?”  Imagine that feeling compounded by days, weeks, and possibly months of going without brushing your teeth.  YUCK!  In our last post we discussed how important your pet’s dental health is, and how many complications poor oral conditions can cause or exacerbate.  Today, we’ll give you all the information you need to get into a healthy, regular dental care regimen.  A good routine can LITERALLY give you many more happy years with your beloved companion!

Things You Will Need:

• A toothbrush made for dogs or cats:  You can use one that fits over your finger (especially helpful for smaller dogs or cats who have little or no experience with tooth brushing), or one with a handle (which can give you better reach into a larger dog’s mouth).  Some handled brushes have a small brush on one end and a larger brush on the other. 
• Pet-specific toothpaste:  This is a must!  NEVER use human toothpaste; it contains ingredients which may be harmful or toxic.  Pet toothpaste comes in several flavors, such as beef, liver, chicken, or peanut butter.  You may need to experiment a little to figure out which one your pet prefers. 
• A favorite treat:  Remember our January blog post?  Using positive reinforcement helps ensure that tooth brushing will be a routinely positive experience, one that your dog or cat won’t mind repeating.   

Start Small!

If your dog or cat isn’t familiar with tooth brushing, you may need to start in small steps.

First, in keeping with positivity, ensure that you do not take a threatening stance or restrain/ hold down your pet.  WebMD recommends kneeling or sitting in front of or beside him.  Rub your finger along his gums and teeth, applying light pressure.  Getting your pet to accept this may take a few days.  Then, you can apply toothpaste onto your finger and repeat the process.  Once this has been achieved, you can generally begin to use the toothbrush along with the toothpaste.


The Brushing Technique

Gently brush your pet’s teeth in a circular motion, ensuring you are hitting the gum line to help remove the plaque.  Make sure you don’t brush too hard—if you see bleeding gums, this could be either an indication of gingivitis (gum disease) or that you are applying too much pressure.  If it happens regularly, be sure to ask your vet.

Even if your pet only allows brushing for a few seconds, it’s important to reward the behavior with a treat.  You can keep trying the next day, and build up time as you go!

Helpful Hints:

• Talk to your pet in a soothing manner; be calm 
• Give treats regularly during brushing activities to build positive response to dental care 
• Schedule tooth brushing following physical exercise, when your pet may be a little more tired and more likely to cooperate calmly 
• Ask your vet which chewy items are good for maintaining dental health (some recommend Greenies, types of rawhides, or raw marrow bones) between brushings. 

As always, here is a list of useful resources to help you make your pet’s “smile” dazzling and kisses sweet! 

Paws & Prayers Adoptable Dog, Hennesy

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=997 

http://pets.webmd.com/healthy-dog-teeth-10/slideshow-brushing-dog-teeth 

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/essential-grooming-brushing-your-dogs-teeth.html
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Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2