Doggy Dental Care: Teeth Cleaning 101

Your dog's dental health is so important for his total well-being... and for guaranteeing him a long and happy life. So don't give him the brush-off! Make tooth cleaning a daily ritual that your dog will look foward to as something the two of you do together.

To start, you'll have to get your doggy used to you fumbling around in his mouth. Ease him into it with a total-body pat-down; a chassis inspection that ideally should be performed on him each day. Have him sit while you examine his body to make sure everything is in working order and there aren't any weird objects or critters lodged in unexpected places. Run your hands over his back and sides. Lift each paw and check the pads of his feet and between his toes. Gently lift his ears and peek inside. (If you see something peeking back at you, run away quickly!)

When you get to his mouth, approach with caution. Gently pull his lips back for a view of that magnificent gumline. Your dog's teeth should be cushioned snugly by a set of pink gums. A healthy gumline is naturally bumpy... so if your dog's gums appear straight rather than wavy, inflamed and/or cover most of the tooth surface, that's a sign of trouble ahead. When WAS the last time you were in for a checkup?

If your dog is getting, well, long in the tooth, it's probably a good idea to take him for a dental workup at the vet's office before you officially start your daily dental hygiene routine at home. Either way, discuss dental hygiene with your vet before beginning a daily toothcare regimen.

Okay: it's time to introduce your pal to "tooth brushing a la human." You can purchase a dog toothbrush at your local Petsmart or other pet store. Try the traditional people-style brush with a handle, or if you're sure you won't lose a hand in his mouth, go for the rubber finger cap toothbrush that fits right over the tip of your index finger. Buy special dog toothpaste which comes in delightful flavors that appeal to dogs, like beef and chicken and the ever-popular cat flavor (joke). You can also brush his teeth with a salt water solution. Whatever you do... do NOT brush your dog's teeth with people toothpaste. He can't be taught to spit like a human, and people toothpaste is most definitely harmful if swallowed.

Offer your dog a little taste of the special dog toothpaste to get him used to it. Let him take a few licks and nibbles of the toothbrush. When he's finished sampling the goods, nudge the brush into his mouth. Brush in circular motions along and under the gum line, paying extra attention to the upper molars in back. This is where plaque accumulates the most rapidly. Go from back to front, and be patient! This is a new and strange sensation for your dog, and he may even try to play a little tug of war with the toothbrush since you're at the other end of it. Don't expect a miracle the first time you try to brush your dog's teeth. Next time should be a bit easier, and the time after that even moreso.

Train your dog to associate tooth-brushing with fun times. Talk to him and make it fun! When he's all finished and showing off those freshly buffed fangs of his, give him a crunchy treat that also does double-duty as a plaque controller. Take him out for his daily walk. Tell him what a good boy he is! In time, he'll grow to accept toothbrushing as just another pleasant ritual in his doggy day.

Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more information.

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

Unusual Breeding Behaviour in Wild Caught Archocentrus Sajica
I would like to write a few words about my experiences breeding wild caught Archocentrus sajica and a surprise that these fish gave me - a surprise that shows the fascinating and diverse behaviour of these animals.I got a pair of wild-caught sajicas from a friend who had collected them on a trip.

A Dog Name is Something To Be Chosen Carefully
How important is a dog name? Well let's think about this.How often do you call your dog? Who will hear your dog's name? Will you be writing to anyone about this dog?Now that you think about the times you'll use the name, maybe you should put some thought into what that dog name is.

Dogs Get More Human Every Day
First pet stores began selling clothes for pets. Then kennels upgraded from a wire cage to four-star hotels for man's best friend.

Crate Training Tips: How to Crate Train Your Dog
A crate is a valuable and useful training tool. Its main purpose is to provide security, safety and protection for short term confinement while training a puppy or new dog about its own and house boundaries.

Media Influence on Public Perception of Exotic Cat Ownership
What makes something news? The fact that you take good care of your pets isn't newsworthy. Neither is your recent trip to the supermarket; If something is normal, it isn't news.

The Myth of 100% Complete Processed Pet Foods
Every day, people by the millions pour food from a package into their pet's bowl. Day in and day out, meal after meal, pets get the same fare.

A Beginners Guide to Lovebirds
Lovebirds are so named from the way they sit close to each other, not because they are in love with each other. Lovebirds can and do mate for life, but it doesn't happen every time.

What Type of Cat Food is Really Best For Your Cat?
Which cat food should you feed your cat to be certain that he or she will have the proper nutrition? What is the best mix of food to assist your cat in living to the limit of it's life span?Let's examine the diet of a cat in it's natural environment. In the wild, a cat will eat almost entirely animal tissue.

A New Nutritional Approach for Both Pet Allergies and Allergies to Pets
A New Understanding of AllergiesAllergies of all kinds seem to be on the rise--both for people and for their pets. The exciting new science of Glycobiology points strongly to a common basis for many of these allergies; and the revolutionary new nutritional technology of glyconutrition, which has developed from this new science, is proving to be a very effective--and natural--way to help both pets and their owners get marked relief from their allergies.

How to Paint Your Cat
Why paint your cat? After all cats are beautiful creatures if you want to appreciate the appearance of a feline, you look at the cat not at a painting.Some of the reasons that you may want to paint your cat are:To capture your pet at a particular age, in a particular pose, in a particular place.

Shock Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
Shock CollarsAre you at a loss as to whether or not to purchase a shock collar for your pet? Yes, you love the little guy but the neighbors don't want him in their yard. Or, maybe they are complaining about the dog's barking? You need to do something and you are thinking about getting a shock collar? Here's some information to think about regarding shock collars.

Who Let The Dogs Out? Pointers For In Home Dog Training
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth to a rather popular phrase some years back? Perhaps, its fame can be traced to how it struck a cord on our collective subconscious. After all, not a few of us fear the warpath of dogs gone wild.

The ABCs of Beaks
Beaks, Bills, Face Knives, Beakers - whatever we want to call them, they are an integral part of our Hookbills! So, let's break the beak down into some understandable lessons:A. Anatomy - What is a beak? It is not "dead" material, like hair or fingernails - rather, it is a living organ, the tip of which contains a bundle of sensitive nerves.

Our Pets Behavior
Behavior can be a huge iisue with our pets. If each dog and cat owner in the United States took the time to understand the root of their animals'behavioral issues, our animal shelters would be substantially less populated with strays.

Dog Food - Which Diet is Best for Dogs?
Why The Food You Give Your Dog Matters!If you're like most dog owners, you probably assume that commerical dog foods with brand names that are easily identifiable - Purina, Iams, Pedigree, etc. - must be good for your pets, right? After all, millions of pet owners buy them and feed them to their beloved pets, and surely they wouldn't all give their dogs something harmful.

Charming Trends in Dog Jewelry
The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500 BC, when they were believed to hold special powers -- particularly the power of protection. By the 1890's charms had evolved into a fashion statement and a popular keepsake.

Dog Obedience Training Basics
The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping dog's attention and understanding your dog. To get the respect of your dog you must be consistent.

Materials for Snake and other Reptile Cages
What kind of materials should you use when constructing a reptile cage? This question was posed to me once by someone wishing to build their own reptile cage. They were particularly asking about pine and cedar as they had heard these were no good.

Why Does My Pet Eat Grass?
Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass, then throws up afterwards? You'll probably feel relieved to know that pets eat grass because their bodies need it.Dogs and cats have been eating grass for a long time.

Dogs Are Mans Best Friend
Dogs are believed to be descendants of wild wolves. They were the first wild animal to be tamed.