I'll be a dentist! Feb 12, 2010
So, February is Dog Dental Month. Keeping your dog's teeth clean is really important to prolonging a long, happy and healthy life doe your favorite four-legged friend. There are a few ways to assist your furry pal keep his pearly whites the best they can be. Toby has gorgeous teeth, he wouldn't stand still long enough for me to take a pic so I can prove it.
1. Dental Checkups - If you have a younger dog, a yearly dental check up is perfectly fine. For old dogs, have their teeth checked twice a year. Toby is not a big fan of this one, but I'm a good mom and take him anyway.
2. Treats that promote good dental health - Rawhides and tendons can be a great way to provide additional dental stimulation for your dog. Toby is a huge fan of Merrick's Flossie, the twisted shape is great for working on plaque. Don't give your dogs the flat rawhide. They eat them too quickly for them to be effective and they can be too easy to swallow when they are still too big and cause dogs to choke.
3. Brush your dogs teeth - Let me explain how this worked the first time I tried to do this with Toby. I bought the toothbrush and special Dog toothpaste with the full intent of using it every night. At first Toby was interested in the new item, sniffing and licking it. But, when I tried to actually brush his teeth he became a world class running back, breaking every hold, tackle and attempt to hold him down. I ended up with more toothpaste on me then in his mouth and in the end I gave up and he scampered away happily to do what ever a dog does when they know they won the match. On a positive note, I did go back for seconds and have mastered the art of brushing Toby's teeth.
Bottom line, if you care about your dog, you need to care about all of him... including his teeth. Good dog dental hygiene can help your dog's breath, lengthen his life and pretty much enhance his quality of living. Brush away!
