To brush or not to brush? How to keep your dog’s oral health good all year round

Your dog’s teeth and mouth are a lot busier than yours – they use their mouths not just to enjoy great food and doggy treats, but also to play, explore and gauge their surroundings.

If you’re careless with your dog’s oral health and particularly teeth and gums, it may lead to some serious health problems, not to mention inflated vet bills.

This is why we’ve put together a few tips as part of your regular doggy day care routine

How to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy

By the age of 3, about 80% of dogs develop some kind of periodontal disease. And, unfortunately, poor dental health is not just limited to affecting your dog’s mouth but also vital organs like the heart, liver and kidneys as the bacteria from gum disease can easily enter the bloodstream.

A dog with healthy teeth and gums will always be able to absorb the most nutrition from their food, crunching every mouthful more effectively as they go. On the other hand, if they have tooth pain or compromised gums, they will not be able to enjoy their meals properly, with the result that their metabolism will get bogged down – opening the door to diseases and ailments.

Top tips to ensure great canine oral health

Brush regularly and keep at it

Once you get in the habit of brushing your dog’s teeth regularly, you can keep their teeth and gums healthy all year round. Just be patient and keep at it. Getting them used to having their teeth cleaned on a daily basis is very important. Give it some time though and let them taste the dog toothpaste so that they’ll know that having their teeth brushed is not a chore or ordeal but rather, a treat.

Rewards a plenty

After each brushing session, reward your pet with their favourite treat or pet them and praise them. Do this diligently to help make your dog feel comfortable, so that they’ll excitedly look forward to the next session!

For difficult dogs: try toys

Some dogs may be uncomfortable with the idea of you holding them down and forcing them to open their mouth. Specific toys are available which are designed primarily to clean your dog’s teeth but can also be chewed on as you do the brushing.

Just be careful, however – you don’t want to invest in toys that are too small or pose the risk of being accidently swallowed and cause choking.

Use the right toothbrush & toothpaste

Once your dog is ready, get a proper toothbrush designed for dogs. This typically has a long handle to help you reach all their teeth in a safe and effective manner.

Make sure you buy toothpaste that is specially meant for dogs. Never (ever) use regular toothpaste as it can be very toxic for dogs.

As a leading doggy day care and dog grooming Winchester centre, we love looking after pets like our own. Apart from the typical dog walking routine, we also provide oral cleaning and hygiene. Drop in and see what all the tail wagging is about!