How to properly brush your dog’s teeth
Tooth Brushing Tutorial
Did you know that over 80% of pets above the age of three have dental disease? The best thing you can do at home for your pet’s oral health is brushing their teeth. Brushing your pet’s teeth daily with a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste can significantly reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
Dr. Mac and Monkey have created this video, to show our pawrents how to properly introduce and implement tooth brushing with their pets. It’s not as difficult as you might think!
- Collect your materials – an enzymatic toothpaste, a soft bristled toothbrush, and your pet’s favourite snack.
- Get your pet comfortable having their face and mouth handled by slowly introducing muzzle restraint, and reward with their favourite snack.
- Once your pet is comfortable with restraint , progress to gently lifting the lips to expose outer tooth surfaces.
- Next, introduce the toothbrush and toothpaste and gently brush the outside surfaces of the teeth in very small increments (start with 1-2 seconds). Slowly increase the duration of brushing as your pet becomes more comfortable. Reward your pet for allowing you to brush their teeth!
- Avoid pulling the jaw open to get the inside surfaces of the teeth as it can create a negative experience.
- Remember to always reward each phase of brushing with your pet’s favourite snack! You can also time tooth brushing so it happens before meal times, this way your pet learns that tooth brushing means dinner. Cavities are rare in dogs and cats, so go ahead and use food as an incentive!
