You & Your Pet

HOW TO HELP WITH YOUR DOG’S ORAL HYGIENE

As pet parents the health and well-being of our pets are extremely important but for some reason, the percentage of people that brush their pet’s teeth is quite low with increasing cases of tooth loss and gum disease amongst pets.

Oral hygiene for pets appears to be overlooked by the majority of people and is something that needs to change. Without support, any dog will find it difficult to maintain a healthy mouth which could then lead to complications in the future.

How to help your four-legged friend

Introduce your dog to any dental tools before you place anything near or in their mouth. This will give them the opportunity to smell and play with the items and help prevent them from feeling scared or anxious when the time comes to use them.

Before using a brush you will want your pet to feel comfortable, move your finger around your pet’s mouth, on the gums and teeth, supporting their head in a position they are comfortable with. This will allow them to get used to something touching the insides of their mouth.

Eventually, your pet will become comfortable which will allow you to move on to the next stage of brushing. Using a small amount of dog-friendly toothpaste along with a pet-safe brush you may begin brushing your pet’s teeth.

If your pet becomes agitated or seems uncomfortable then stop the process immediately to reduce any negative associations with brushing their teeth. Reward them for good behaviour as this will encourage them to do it again as well as help to keep them calm.

Practice makes perfect which certainly applies to brushing your dog’s teeth. Over time they should become used to this daily routine.

However, not every dog will feel comfortable having their teeth brushed for many different reasons; Senior dogs may have difficulties with the introduction to something new and intrusive, rescue dogs that may be suffering from trauma may not feel comfortable being exposed in this way, and they may feel too vulnerable.

For dogs that find this process unbearable, there are other options that won’t be as effective but will still help to prevent a build-up of plaque and bacteria. For example, dog-friendly mouthwashes are a great way to reduce plaque without brushing as the mouthwash can be added to their drinking water.

Dental chew toys can also assist in keeping a clean and healthy mouth as well as dental chews. Dental chews are great for fighting bad breath and plaque, reaching those hardto-reach areas in the mouth. Dental chews are available for puppies and adults.

As always if you have any questions regarding your dogs and their oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. You can pop into our store or get in touch via any of our social channels or via our website. n

Ashlee is the social media and marketing assistant at petplace. Animal obsessed, she has a fondness for all living things and the environment using her creativity to build awareness. If you follow petplace on social media you will no doubt have interacted with Ashlee, she loves engaging with their customers and, most importantly, seeing all your wonderful pets.