Not everyone takes me seriously when I tell them they need to brush their pet’s teeth. That’s when I whip out a toothbrush and pet toothpaste and get to work on a demonstration. But even that’s not always enough to convince them.
Not surprisingly, it’s more often the long-time pet owner who gives me that “you’ve got to be kidding” look. You know the look. It’s usually accompanied by a bemused smile and a head tilt that says, “Seriously …?” Yes, seriously.
It’s about time everyone recognized that their vet won’t sympathize with them when they complain about their pet’s bad breath and expensive dental procedures—not if they’re unwilling to learn how to brush their pets’ teeth, train them to sit still for brushings, and actually do it more frequently than once every full moon.
Sure, some pets don’t make themselves great candidates for brushing. But here are eleven tips everyone should take to heart when it comes to brushing their pets’ teeth:
1. Train your pet to tolerate it
I’m not saying he’ll ever love it. But he should at least tolerate brushings. Less than 10 percent of dogs are actually trained. It’s likely that an even smaller number is trained to accept a toothbrush or fingerbrush in their mouths. Hire a trainer if you must, but make a point of teaching him that the toothbrush is his friend.
2. Start early
Ideally, all pets should be acclimated to brushing before they ever show signs of periodontal disease (80 percent of pets have periodontal disease by the age of three). Training always works best when you begin early. But don’t despair if you didn’t.
3. Learn how
Have someone actually demonstrate the procedure on your pet. Make little circling motions. Concentrate on the outside of the teeth. Skip the tongue. Here’s a good video for cat owners and a good video for dog owners.
4. Lightning fast brushings are better than nothing
It doesn’t have to take you forever. Half a minute of brushing twice a week is waaaaay better than skipping it altogether. You’d be surprised how effective just thirty seconds can be when it comes to removing early plaque.
