Tyler Animal Clinic, Inc.
(440)953-1730
www.tyleranimalclinic.com
Click here for a great video on brushing Never use a toothbrush on the first day! The sensation of brushing is quite unnatural and even the best trained dogs will resist this until they get used to it.
Patience is a must! This must be fun or it will not work. Dogs are like toddlers when it come to mouth care. They have no idea why you're doing it but you still have to do it. If it takes a month or two to train your dog, that's ok. Be persistent, gentle and always reward after a session. Tips:
o OraVet works very well. It applies a protective barrier to the surface of the tooth that prevents plaque from forming and it only needs to be done once a week. All you need to so is smear on a small amount to the upper teeth. Tongue movement and warmth then spread it around to the other teeth. We start puppies on this as soon as their adult teeth start to come in especially in Yorkies, Poodles and other small breed dogs as they are prone to developing dental disease at a young age. Sometimes we will instruct you to apply it more often in some cases where plaque builds up very quickly and brushing may not be possible.
o Chews and toys, for the most part, are beneficial in providing mechanical abrasion to the surface of the tooth to scrape of plaque as it forms. See the section on this website on chews and toys.
o Rinses and wipes that contain chlorhexidine, acetic acid, enzymes and/or surfactants are an excellent adjunct to daily oral care. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label or send us an e-mail with questions.
o We suggest giving a tiny bit of toothpaste as a fun treat for the first day or so. Then, take the paste with your finger and smear it on the front teeth for a few days. As each day passes, place the paste further back in the mouth as your pet gets used to the idea. After a week or so, when it seems that your dog or cat is willing to accept this, try a brush but only on the front teeth for a while, then the upper teeth moving toward the back. The idea here is to introduce brushing gradually and give lots of praise for cooperation. Stop as soon as tolerance wanes and NEVER scold an animal for not tolerating brushing. This is a very un-natural sensation for them and scolding them will make this a daily bad experience. They will need time to get used to this. Be patient! It may take weeks or months. Make a game out of it where your pet always wins.
o Always brush in slow gentle circles being sure to get the gumline where the teeth and gums meet and, most importantly, the teeth all the way in the back. We find it easiest to start with a finger brush instead of a conventional toothbrush. This allows you to "feel" the tooth that you are scrubbing and prevents you from jabbing blindly at the back of the mouth causing pain.
Anytime there is concern that your pet might bite you, use common sense. Do not place yourself in danger. It's very rare for a dog to be compelled to bite its owner but there are always a few out there that just won't tolerate much handling at all. You know your pet best.
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