Brushing Teeth

[Benny]

How many folks brush their dogs teeth?
I've never done it, but I'm starting to see the results of never doing it and I'm concerned about paying the price down the road. Turns out all those well advertised denta-bones and other chewies are bologna.

Any tips or techniques would be very helpful

[Gertie]

I brushed my lab's teeth and plan to brush my current pup's teeth when she gets them all in. I tried to do it twice a week. It's no big deal once they get used to it and it'll save the dog a lot of problems when they get old and save you money down the road on cleanings. I like the brush that goes over the finger, it seems to be a little easier to manage than the handle kind. Also, my vet sells Virbac enzymatic chews that she says work well. The jury is still out on that one but it might be worth a shot.

[Sharon]

I brush 3 dogs , twice a week each. Takes 5 minutes. All you need is a $600.00 dental bill to be a believer.

Some use tripe.

[ezzy333]

I have never done it and have read that it does no good. On the surface is makes sense but I really do wonder what you accomplish.

Ezzy

[birddogger]

I also, have never done it and have never had a need for it. I have no argument with the ones who do though. I think maybe it makes a difference if a dog eats a lot of table scraps and/or moistened or soft food. JMO

Charlie

[Sharon]

It keeps the plaque/tartar from building up and leading to infected gums just like people. Especially as a dog gets older ,long term brushing has really helped. . Surely some have had an older dog with terrible breath, yellow encrusted teeth , loose teeth . $600. at the vet for repair. No need for that if you brush from an early age. jmo

Petrodex Enzymatic toothpaste

PS Dental problems often go unannounce as few people check their dogs teeth. My old Jack Russell - 13 ( never brushed), just had 4 teeth removed at his bottom front. Been on kibble and marrow bones his whole life.

[windswept]

I guess the unanswered question would be could you avoid all of the late life dental problems by brushing. I have had many dogs that never really experienced much trouble with teeth anyway and I never brush the dog's teeth. I figure the dog only lives 10 - 15 years and the teeth should last that long and then some. I brush my teeth because I'm hoping they'll last several decades!

[Benny]

Well there's some good points made. I'd be interested to know what folks are using for toothpaste?

I'm thinking even though I've had my teeth for quite some time, I know folks that are my age that don't have that great of teeth. I think Emma might fall in the category of dogs that don't have the greatest God given teeth. I've never once served her table scraps (unless you count pouring bacon grease on her food once a week as a present), but she seems to gather more buildup than I'm comfortable with so I'd like to take a stab at the brushing deal.

I'm sure other dogs keep their pearly whites all their lives, though. Mine is not that dog

[sully511]

I don't brush my dog's teeth. I just give an occasional raw meaty beef bone, like a knuckle bone for example. I get them from the butcher for fairly cheap. It's an outside only treat, so it's not a wintertime treat, but they will lay outside and chew on them for an hour or so and when I pick them up their teeth are pearly white again.

Some people I know that do brush the dog's teeth don't use a toothbrush, they use gauze. It works well, gets some gunk off every time. As far as the toothpaste, make sure it is an enzymatic kind that will help break down the tartar. You can also get a dental scaler and scale off the tartar the dog has now, then start brushing after that. It takes a long time with just brushing to get rid of tartar.

[nanney1]

Three dogs, two chew bones. This way they're always in competition and stealing a bone from each other. Once they get the bone they chew vigorously to keep away from the others. Get distracted and turn away, and bone is gone. Now the new chewer is getting a good tooth and jaw workout. Kind of a keep away game. Of course, even if they have 5 bones in plain view, they only want what the other one has.

Please note, this only works if your dogs don't have fights over such things. Mine don't.

My oldest dog always had access to nylabones and chew toys but was never much of a chewer until we acquired a second dog that chewed vigorously. Once she saw him leave a bone, she would grab it and start chewing. Now that we have a third who is also a vigorous chewer, the older dog has become even more interested in chew bones. Here teeth are much cleaner now due to chewing on nylabones every day.

[Benny]

Interesting...although I probably won't get two more GSP's just to keep one's teeth healthy

I will try the nylabones again though. I wish they were more luring for Emma but in the past she seems to snub them. I don't blame her, who would want to eat that thing?

[stlgsp]

I give raw chicken necks or backs once or twice a week which helps keep their teeth clean. They also have nylabones & deer antlers to chew on.
The few times I have shown dogs I'll scrape off any tartar if needed. It usually pops off pretty easy, the hardest part is teaching them to be still.

[Ranger351]

I've never brushed any of my dogs teeth but do regularly give milkbones and every other month a big raw knuckle. I've never heard any complaints from the vet.

[ultracarry]

Bacon nylabones work the best.

My dog plays the keep away game with the yorkie ... There's usually growling (yorkie) and jumping (kimber) and they usually kiss and make up when they ate done.

[SHORTFAT]

I brush my dogs teethabout every other week or so... now the real question is...

"Who all loves their dog enough to use their own toothbrush to do it with???

[Benny]

Oooooh Bacon Nyla-Bones? That sounds like a winner for my dog!

I brush my dogs teethabout every other week or so... now the real question is...

"Who all loves their dog enough to use their own toothbrush to do it with???

No dude...I'm not letting my sonicare toothbrush into that rancid saliva trap

[Swagg]

I brush my dogs teethabout every other week or so... now the real question is...

"Who all loves their dog enough to use their own toothbrush to do it with???

wait a minute.........
were not supposed to use the same brush ?

[SHORTFAT]

I switch off and use my mother-in-laws when she visits... The dog responds well to the softer bristles... I laughed as l watched a friend let his dog lick out the last of the ice cream from his bowl during the footbal game the other night... he forgot and about 15 mins later came back in with another couple of scoops in the same bowl... I waited till he was done to ask if he ever shares the spoon too... his wife howled!

[Sharon]

No shared brushes, but i accidently used the doggie toothpaste once .

[tasi devil]

Natures Tooth brush, no plaque no calculus,...... bones plus occasional big chunks of meat they have to chew bits off.



..................tasi

[SHORTFAT]

Now there's a happy ol' pup...

[Benny]

Down under guy...your dog eats better than I do!

Well I've started brushing Emma's pearly yellows and I'm seeing some results, as for some of the brown spots around the mollars it may come to an expensive dental visit in the future. I can't seem to get any headway on those

[mobeasto123]

I use Proden Plaque And 1-2 raw turkey necks a week and they shine has brand new teeth... You just have to brush the big Canines with a non abrasive pad like 3M once in a while to get the stuff off those teeth...

[Sharon]

Down under guy...your dog eats better than I do!

Well I've started brushing Emma's pearly yellows and I'm seeing some results, as for some of the brown spots around the mollars it may come to an expensive dental visit in the future. I can't seem to get any headway on those

Sure it's not just pigment color?

[Benny]

Sure it's not just pigment color?

Sharon, I honestly wouldn't know the difference. Could you explain?

[Sharon]

Most dogs have some black pigment (skin color spots). They can be on their belly , around their genitalia, on their nose or on their gums. It is perfectly normal and should be of no concern.

[hustonmc]

Benny you go to Oregon State, not University of Oregon. Stop being such a hippie and get your dog a beef knuckle!!!!

[Benny]

I do stuff like that in the summer when the dog likes laying out on the grass and nibbling, but she's a house dog and the old lady would kill me if she saw a beef knuckle laying on the carpet. She went to U of O

*And Sharon, I don't believe it's what you're describing. I will try to get a picture, but it's just brown on the teeth, the gums actually look quite healthy. It's only around her back molars, near the gumline though for sure. It's definitely a discolored build-up in my unprofessional opinion.

[natsuto]

They also antler chew nylabones.If needed. It usually bring up is very simple, the hardest part is to teach them still.