Tag Archives: canine dental hygiene

Dog Tip – A brush a week keeps the vet bills away

I let my dogs gnaw on my fingers once a week. And you should, too!
It’s not really fun for any of us, but it’s saved our dogs teeth – and a ton of money for us.
Yes, we brush our dogs’ teeth once a week.
Fanatics say it should be every day, but we can’t commit to that.
Others say they never do it – either because their dogs won’t let them, they don’t have time,
or they just don’t bother.
Still others say they never have to, because their dogs chew on raw bones and don’t need
it. (Ours enjoy bones, too. And yes, they still need their teeth brushed.)
We started small with each of the dogs as soon as we brought them home, rubbing a damp
washcloth over their teeth a couple of times a week. Not very long, and not all of the teeth
at once. We built up slowly, over time, to get them used to the idea. And to allow time for
all those needle-sharp puppy teeth to fall out before we stuck our hands in their mouths!
Everyone should give their dogs’ teeth a brush (or a wipe) at least once in a while to get
familiar with how your dog’s mouth looks under normal circumstances.
Teddy has had a few incidents with his mouth over the years, all found because of regular
tooth-brushing. And all dealt with before the issues became major. One time Hope found a
swelling in Teddy’s gums during his brush. It turned out to be a growth that needed surgical
removal. Fortunately, it was benign.
Another time Teddy had fractured one of his teeth and a chunk of it was hanging by a
thread. Again, discovered during brushing, and removed before it could cause any major
problems.
Brushing your dog’s teeth will also help with bad breath. A normal, healthy dog’s mouth
really shouldn’t smell. If your dog does have stinky breath, it could be an indication of a
problem in his mouth, or with his digestion. Rotting teeth can poison a dog’s entire system
and lead to all kinds of problems.
And brushing your dog’s teeth should appeal to everyone’s frugal side. Before we started
we used to have each dog’s teeth professionally cleaned once a year. With the anesthesia
(always a cause of concern), surgery, professional fees, etc., the cost really added up.
None of our current dogs (Tango is oldest at 7), has ever needed professional dentistry! At
their annual exams, their vet is almost as delighted as we are when she says – “no dental
needed this year!”