Translated by Nick R
Our pet needs proper hygiene in order to enjoy good health and brushing your pet’s teeth is a very important part of the cleaning routine.
Good dental hygiene will prevent them from suffering health problems, so here I’ll explain why to start brushing your pet’s teeth and how to do it.
Table of Contents
Importance of brushing your dog’s or cat’s teeth
Poor dental hygiene will cause your pet to accumulate food debris, creating tartar plaque on its teeth that will lead to bad breath, loss of teeth, pain and gum swelling, or even an infection that could affect its organs.
In both cats and dogs, these oral problems can appear at the age of 2 to 3 years old. That’s why it’s recommended that you start cleaning their teeth as soon as possible, so your pet will get used to it and won’t have serious problems that affect their health.
You may also be interested in this article: 9 essential tips to improve your dog or cat’s hygiene.
Dental diseases and how to recognize them
Some diseases that can appear due to poor oral hygiene are:
Tartar:
This is a bacterial plaque that appears from food debris accumulating on the teeth of our pet, these remains solidify and become yellow or brown in color.
Note: tartar can lead to tooth loss, gum infections that can cause gingivitis, and also infections in vital organs, such as the heart.
Gingivitis:
This appears when tartar is not properly treated. The infection causes inflammation in the gums, which will make it difficult for your pet to eat because of pain. In cases of a very serious infection, not only a professional dental cleaning will be required, but probably antibiotics as well.
Symptoms of gingivitis:
- Bad breath.
- Hypersalivation.
- Loss of appetite due to difficulty chewing.
- Pain, your pet may not like to be touched.
- Red and swollen gums.
- Bleeding gums.
- Abscesses.
Note: if gingivitis is not treated in time it can lead to a more serious disease such as periodontitis.
Periodontitis:
It’s a gum infection that can also affect the bone structure of the teeth. This disease appears if gingivitis is not eliminated in time. It will most likely affect the organs as the infection spreads.
Symptoms of periodontitis:
- Bad breath.
- Gum inflammation.
- Tartar.
- Pain.
- Behavioral changes.
- Loss of appetite and, therefore, of weight.
- Excessive salivation.
- Abscesses.
Consequences:
- Fractures in the jaw.
- Loss of teeth.
- Fever.
- Heart, liver, and kidney disease.
- Death.
Considering all of the above, it is understandable that if you don’t brush your feline or canine’s teeth, they could end up suffering from these diseases that if allowed to progress can have quite serious consequences.
You can also read this manual on periodontal diseases in dogs and cats.
So here I’ll explain what you need and how to start brushing your pet’s teeth if you haven’t done it before.
Tools for brushing your dog’s or cat’s teeth
Toothbrush
First of all, you need a proper toothbrush. You can find it in pet stores or veterinaries. There are different types such as:
- Stick toothbrushes: these are similar to the ones we use, with the difference that they have two heads, on one side a wider one and on the other a smaller one, they are also quite long. This way you can easily reach all the teeth.
- Thimble-shaped brushes: this type of brush has the shape of your finger, you just have to put it on, it is a way to get your pet used to clean teeth, but you will not be able to easily reach all the teeth with this tool.
- Spare parts: there are some stick brushes that include some other parts to properly accommodate the tooth you are cleaning since teeth are different sizes.
- Triple-headed brushes: this brush has its bristles in opposite places which allows you to access several areas of the tooth.
Toothpaste
Regarding toothpaste or toothpaste, you should get a special one for pets. Never brush your feline or canine’s teeth with your toothpaste since it is toxic for them.
In the market, you can find toothpaste with different flavors such as chicken, meat, or menthol. The important thing to get one of these creams is that first of all it will not be toxic for your pet, and, on the other hand, they will like the taste and it will be easier to brush them.
7 tips for successfully brushing your canine or feline’s teeth
Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when brushing your pet’s teeth.
1. Get your pet used to the brush
The first thing you need to do is to get your pet used to the toothbrush and toothpaste. Let it lick the toothpaste, as I said before, it’s not toxic and since it will like the taste, it will be easier for it not to get scared when you bring the toothbrush close to it.
You can also associate some prizes with the brush. While you are trying to brush it, give it a prize, as you do when you teach it a new trick. Flattery and pampering will also help.
It is normal for your dog or cat to bite the brush while you are brushing it, just be careful not to break it.
Recommendation: it’s always better to get your pet used to brushing from an early age when it is in its socialization stage, so it will be much easier for both of you.
2. Short sessions
As your pet gets used to it, don’t do too long sessions or it will get bored or stressed. For example, when I was teaching my puppy, I usually only managed to brush one tooth before she started to walk away.
So introduce brushing in short sessions and increase the time until your pet gets used to this activity.
It is normal if your friend prefers to lick the toothpaste rather than let you brush it, however, as it gets used to it, you can brush it little by little.
3. When is the best time?
It’s advisable to do it at the end of the day when it has already been played and exercised, so it will be tired and will not have so much energy to avoid brushing.
Anyway, this will also depend on your pet’s personality, as some will make cleaning easier than others.
I usually brush my dog’s teeth in the afternoon, first I take her out to exercise and play. When we get home I let her rest for a while and then I brush her teeth since this is when she is calmer.
Also, if you always do it on the same schedule, they will get used to it much easier, routines are important to give our pets security and confidence.
4. Frequency
It’s recommended to do it every day. This way, you will be sure to remove the food remains that accumulate. But, if for some reason you cannot do it every day, it would be ideal to do it at least three times a week.
By doing it every day you can extend your visits to the veterinarian and you won’t have to do a professional cleaning as often. Also, if you let days go by without brushing it, dirt will accumulate and you will need longer cleaning sessions than if you brush it every day.
On the other hand, your pet will enjoy constant cleanliness and good breath.
There are also other types of products you can use to help your pet have proper oral hygiene. I’ll name them in tip number 7.
5. How to do it?
First, you must find a place where your friend feels calm and relaxed. I particularly like to do it in the backyard because there are fewer distractions.
After finding a good spot and introducing the toothbrush and toothpaste, lift its lip so you can get a good look at the teeth. It’s advisable to start brushing the front teeth because your pet won’t feel comfortable if you try to insert the entire brush to clean the back teeth at first.
Brush with gentle movements so as not to hurt or bother the dog or cat, you will probably need to spend more time cleaning the canines since they accumulate tartar very fast.
You can use circular movements up and down until you remove all the dirt.
If your pet doesn’t like it very much, remember to pamper it and give it praise, even a healthy snack while it gets used to it, so it associates it with something positive.
Recommendation for cat owners: since cats tend to scratch, you can wrap them in a blanket and then do the steps I already explained. This way you will prevent them from becoming aggressive.
6. Professional cleaning
It is advisable to do a professional cleaning at least once a year, even if you brush your cat’s teeth daily, as a way to prevent diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis, which, as I made clear earlier, can be very dangerous.
On the other hand, you should keep a proper cleaning at home to extend the time to perform prophylaxis (deep dental cleaning performed by professionals); some owners shy away from this procedure because it is performed under general anesthesia.
However, it is necessary to do it that way to avoid the animal to move, suffering from stress, or any other complication such as swallowing the water with tartar. On the other hand, pre-surgical examinations to properly analyze the pet’s health are recommended in order to know if it needs any special treatment.
The veterinarian, in order to give the cost of the prophylaxis, must make an evaluation of your pet, since the cost will depend on the size and weight. It costs approximately 50 to 80 USD.
7. Alternative products to clean your dog’s teeth
There are some products that can help you maintain good oral hygiene in your pet, such as:
- Mouthwash: there are mouthwashes for pets, these have no taste or smell as you will have to put it in your pet’s water bowl.
- Cleaning gel: you only need to apply a little gel to your pet’s teeth and it will act as a protector against tartar and bacteria; two drops will be enough. You should put the gel 30 minutes or one hour after your dog has been fed, so you should do it preferably in the evening one hour after its last meal.
- Dental bone: this bone is designed to be edible and help the dental cleaning of canines. It fights tartar and bad breath in dogs. The friction caused by the dog biting on the bone helps to clean the tooth. In addition, some of these bones have oral enzymes that help prevent tartar plaque.
- Toys: there are different types of toys specially designed to help pets teeth cleaning. You can even introduce a little toothpaste in some of them so that your pet can scrub its teeth by itself while playing. This type of toy has bristles that brush the teeth, as the dog bites the toy, then these bristles are introduced around the tooth and prevent tartar by removing food debris.
These are complements that you can include in the cleaning routine, but brushing your pet’s teeth is always recommended; besides, this way you will notice any changes in its gums or teeth.
Recommendations
Please keep in mind that any product you use to clean your pet’s teeth must be special for them. Never use products for humans because they’re toxic for felines and canines.
And finally, remember to be aware of the symptoms of dental diseases and make regular visits to the veterinarian to ensure the good health of your pet.
