Brushing the teeth of your dog is not a common thing these days and most owners will ignore the need for that. As a matter of fact, 61% of dog owners never brush dogs’ teeth which is a big issue. Why do you need to do this? How often to brush dog’s teeth? All of these are important questions that deserve a proper answer. Below we will provide the answers to you and help you understand the topic completely.
Why Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
Let’s start with the most essential thing. Yes, you need to brush your dogs’ teeth on a regular basis. 80% of dogs end up with dental issues at some point and brushing their teeth can prevent that. How often to brush dog’s teeth? This will be a separate part here. Anyway, you need to brush his teeth in order to make sure periodontal disease doesn’t occur. Bone problems are common as well and once again brushing his teeth can help.
If you don’t brush his teeth, the dog will probably develop a problem or two. He will refuse to eat because he is in pain. He may chew large pieces which will affect his digestive tract. Sadly, these issues can affect how long a dog lives. Believe it or not, brushing his teeth on a regular basis can help your dog live, much longer meaning you will have more time to spend with him.
Oral hygiene is mandatory and there are no exceptions. Add the fact that dogs like to eat almost anything and you can see the importance of this simple habit.
How Often Should You Brush His Teeth?
Ideally, you will brush his teeth every single day. This is the best option and the most effective one. At the same time, it will guarantee the ultimate protection and great condition of the teeth. Sadly, this is not something all dog owners can do. They don’t have the time or they can’t invest this amount of energy. Add that some dogs don’t like brushing their teeth and you can see the issue here.
If this is not an option, you should brush his teeth 2-3 times per week. This will be helpful and will protect the teeth of your pet. If this is not an option either, you should brush his teeth 1-2 times per week. This is the lowest number of times you should brush his teeth, period. It is also the most common choice for most dog owners.
Important Tips That Can Help You With Brushing His Teeth
As you probably know, not all dogs like this process. Some will even run away when they sense that you want to brush their teeth. Others will allow you to do this every now and then but not always. That’s why you need to use a few tips that can be really helpful.
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Start As Soon As Possible
You should start brushing his teeth when your dog is a puppy. He will accept this better and he will understand that it is mandatory. Trying to teach an old dog to accept this can be extremely difficult and not always possible. Some dog breeds are stubborn hence they will never accept it.
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Start With Small Actions
When you want to brush teeth on your dog you need to do it slowly. First, you will need to make him comfortable when you are touching his mouth. Most dogs don’t like this hence some time is mandatory to invest. In other words, you will have to make sure he is comfortable with you lifting his lips, touching his teeth, and mouth in general. Take as much time as you need.
Trying to brush his teeth immediately and fast is a mistake. Your pet will consider this as a nightmare and he will refuse to accept it. You will scare him in this way.
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Use His Sense Of Taste
As we all know, dogs love tasty things. Before you start brushing his teeth, you can give him a treat or even soak gauze in peanut butter and give him. You can use anything he likes. The goal is to make him believe that teeth brushing is associated with something tasty and he will probably accept the process sooner and without any major issues.
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Look At The Time When You Will Brush His Teeth
Some dog owners make a huge mistake when they try to brush dog’s teeth when a dog is active. He may run around and want to play at that moment. The last thing he wants to do is to brush his teeth. The solution is simple. You need to wait and brush his teeth when he is resting or before he goes to sleep.
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Don’t Brush His Teeth At Once
You need to brush his teeth while taking a lot of breaks. He will be more comfortable and he will accept all of this easily. This is something you especially have to do when you start with the process and want to teach your dog that brushing his teeth is mandatory. Even if your pet is uncomfortable after some time, take breaks.
Alternatives You Can Use
Even with all the tips here, some dogs will refuse to allow you to brush their teeth. The solution is to look at the alternatives. Chew toys are the best ones. Dogs love these and they can spend hours chewing the things they like. Keep in mind that you need to supervise your pet and make sure he doesn’t end up choking. Use toys of this kind that contain chlorhexidine. This helps clean the teeth.
Wipes and gels are other things you can use. These are effective as well and they are much easier to use. Some dogs even like this alternative. You can also use water additives if nothing else works.
The Final Word
Here is the short summary. How often to brush dog’s teeth? You need to do it at least 1-2 times per week. In that case scenario, it is great to use additional methods. If possible, you should brush his teeth every single day. This will guarantee the best oral hygiene and oral health.
If you liked this article, please check out my other article Dog Grooming: Everything You Need To Do.
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