Your
dog's dental health is so
important for his total well-being...
and for guaranteeing him a long
and happy life. So don't give
him the brush-off! Make tooth
cleaning a daily ritual that
your dog will look foward to as
something the two of you do
together.
To
start, you'll have to get your
doggy used to you fumbling
around in his mouth. Ease him
into it with a total-body pat-down;
a chassis inspection that
ideally should be performed on
him each day. Have him sit while
you examine his body to make
sure everything is in working
order and there aren't any weird
objects or critters lodged in
unexpected places. Run your
hands over his back and sides.
Lift each paw and check the pads
of his feet and between his toes.
Gently lift his ears and peek
inside. (If you see something
peeking back at you, run away
quickly!)
When
you get to his mouth, approach
with caution. Gently pull his
lips back for a view of that
magnificent gumline. Your dog’s
teeth should be cushioned snugly
by a set of pink gums. A healthy
gumline is naturally bumpy... so
if your dog’s gums appear
straight rather than wavy,
inflamed and/or cover most of
the tooth surface, that's a sign
of trouble ahead. When WAS the
last time you were in for a
checkup?
If
your dog is getting, well, long
in the tooth, it's probably a
good idea to take him for a
dental workup at the vet's
office before you officially
start your daily dental hygiene
routine at home. Either way,
discuss dental hygiene with your
vet before beginning a daily
toothcare regimen.
Okay:
it's time to introduce your pal
to "tooth brushing a la human."
You can purchase a dog
toothbrush at your local
Petsmart or other pet store. Try
the traditional people-style
brush with a handle, or if you’re
sure you won’t lose a hand in
his mouth, go for the rubber
finger cap toothbrush that fits
right over the tip of your index
finger. Buy special dog
toothpaste which comes in
delightful flavors that appeal
to dogs, like beef and chicken
and the ever-popular cat flavor
(joke). You can also brush his
teeth with a salt water solution.
Whatever you do... do NOT brush
your dog’s teeth with people
toothpaste. He can't be taught
to spit like a human, and people
toothpaste is most definitely
harmful if swallowed.
Offer your dog a little taste of
the special dog toothpaste to
get him used to it. Let him take
a few licks and nibbles of the
toothbrush. When he's finished
sampling the goods, nudge the
brush into his mouth. Brush in
circular motions along and under
the gum line, paying extra
attention to the upper molars in
back. This is where plaque
accumulates the most rapidly. Go
from back to front, and be
patient! This is a new and
strange sensation for your dog,
and he may even try to play a
little tug of war with the
toothbrush since you're at the
other end of it. Don’t expect a
miracle the first time you try
to brush your dog's teeth. Next
time should be a bit easier, and
the time after that even moreso.
Train your dog to associate
tooth-brushing with fun times.
Talk to him and make it fun!
When he's all finished and
showing off those freshly buffed
fangs of his, give him a crunchy
treat that also does double-duty
as a plaque controller. Take him
out for his daily walk. Tell him
what a good boy he is! In time,
he’ll grow to accept
toothbrushing as just another
pleasant ritual in his doggy day.
Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto.
All rights reserved.
Dina
Giolitto is a copywriting
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10 years of experience writing
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