02/10/2025
Brushing Your Pet's Teeth Can Build Your Relationship With Your Pet 🦷 ♥️
The best way to prevent dental disease and bad breath is to brush your pet's teeth daily. The act of regular brushing reduces bacteria and stimulates the blood supply in the gum tissue to fight bacteria under the gum line. The process of toothbrushing requires, time, patience and many, many treats but the rewards increase your pet's oral health and increases the human animal bond.
When teaching your pet to allow daily toothbrushing follow these steps. Remember that each pet will progress at their own pace so go slow and allow them to really understand what you are expecting at each step.
🐾Step 1: For the first week, choose a flavored, pet friendly toothpaste. Offer your pet a small amount of toothpaste on your finger and let them lick it off.
🐾Step 2: Once they have come expect the little toothpaste treat, apply a small amount of the toothpaste to a tooth with your finger. Slowly over the next week, increase to 2 teeth, and then 3 teeth as your pet allows.
🐾Step 3: Still using your finger, spread the toothpaste over all of your pets teeth and gums.
🐾Step 4: Once your pet tolerates putting toothpaste on all of their teeth, switch to a small pet toothbrush to apply the toothpaste.
Daily brushing, dental diets, water additives, oral wipes and chews can all help to decrease the number of bacteria on and around your pet's teeth. When using dental products, always use VOHC or Veterinary Oral Health Council approved products for dogs and cats. Products with a VOHC (https://vohc.org/)seal are proven to slow plaque and tartar accumulation. Remember that because a food or product says that it fights dental disease, does not mean that it has been proven to do so.
It is Dental Health Month! Reach out and we can help you with any of your pet dental care questions.
