How's your teeth? (www.healthypets.com)
It's a rainy Sunday afternoon and, no, I'm not sitting at my favorite brunch place or laying on the couch reading the Style section of the Times. I'm attending a free Pet Dental seminar at the West Village Veterinary Hospital.
Yes, folks, this is how much I love my dog. I will sacrifice a Sunday, slog through the rain and sit through a one hour workshop--and even take notes and film a video of the live demonstration.
What I learn will scare me so badly that I will dash home and immediately brush my dog's teeth--something I had neglected to do for some time because they looked white and clean.
But lately, I'd been smelling bad doggie breath on my cute little pooch.
As I listened to veterinarian Dr. Lucy O'Byrne, I realized the bad breath could be a sign of periodontal (or gum) disease and a potential harbinger of expensive dental bills to come--not to mention the pain it could potentially cause my dog.
All of this can be avoided with regular brushings at home.
How often should you brush your pet's teeth?
According to every veterinarian I spoke with, ideally, you should brush your dog's and cat's teeth every day.
Otherwise, plaque and tartar will build up, leading to gingivitis and periodontal disease, which is dangerous for your pet.
"Every time a dog with periodontal disease bites down, he is releasing a whole explosion of bacteria," Dr. O'Byrne says, "which may damage the kidney, liver and heart."
Yikes! In addition to letting your pet have bad breath and painful gums, you could be jeopardizing your pet's overall health--all of which is avoidable if we are diligent enough about brushing our pets' teeth.
So start today. For those who already do this at home--extra gold stars for you!
How to brush your pet's teeth
- Get a soft pet toothbrush. (You can also use a rough white gauze (not the soft kind) and wrap it around your finger as a makeshift toothbrush; my dog prefers this method.)
- Get pet toothpaste. The enzymes in special pet toothpaste help break down bacteria.
- Put a little toothpaste on the toothbrush, let your pet lick some of it to get accustomed to the taste. No need for water or rinsing. The pet toothpaste is edible. (My dog loves the taste of CET Enzymatic Toothpaste in poultry flavor. He thinks he's getting a treat.)
- Using a back and forth motion, brush one side of your dog's mouth for 30-40 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Brush the front teeth, too.
- The whole thing should take you about one minute to a minute and a half.
A company called Virbac makes a whole line of pet dental products called C.E.T. It is sold at most veterinary offices and available online.
Watch Dr. O'Byrne demonstrate with her dog, Aloha...
Want more tips from Dr. O'Byrne?
- Chomping down on Rawhides, Bully Sticks, and Flossies can help break down plaque on your dog's teeth. (These items may not be suitable for dogs that chew part of the way, then try to swallow the remainder whole.)
- Try C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for dogs. (My dog loves these.) They've got a fish flavor for cats too.
- Greenies are good for freshening your dog's breath, but be careful that your dog does not try to swallow it whole and chews the Greenie well enough.
- You can brush your pet's teeth at any time of the day; it doesn't have to be last thing at night like us humans.
AVOID:
- Dentabones--they are too hard for our dog's teeth.
- Marrow bones are not good for our dog's teeth. Once the marrow has been licked out, take the bone away.
- Human toothpaste can be harmful to our pets because of the flouride content.
Schedule a dental cleaning for your pet. How often you need to have it done depends on each pet. Check with your veterinarian.
In Manhattan, a pet dental cleaning costs anywhere from $400 to $600 (and does not include the cost of any tooth extractions, oral surgery or dental x-rays that may be necessary). The cost includes hospitalization, gas anesthesia, IV fluids, pre-anesthetic blood panel (to make sure that your pet is okay to undergo anesthesia), pain medication if necessary, nursing care, anesthetic monitoring of the heart, respiration and blood pressure and any possible take home medication.
Comments
I agree it's a good idea to let your dog taste the toothpaste before brushing. However, my problem is my dog likes the taste too much and tries to lick while I'm brushing haha
Mine like to try and lick while I'm brushing too but I use it to my advantage! I got a gentle electric brush and while they try to chew on it and lick it their teeth are getting cleaned. It is very important to clean their teeth everyday...I took in a yorkie last year 5yrs old and the old owners did not take care of his teeth. His breath is AWFUL and last time the vet cleaned them one fell out. I can only hope my dailey brushing will prevent any more problems.
Re brushing a cat's teeth. I was [well] advised by several veterinarians, all graduates of a local top-notch university veterinary hospital, not to attempt to brush a cat's teeth unless the cat is accustomed to it already. Unlike dogs, most cats do not lend themselves to being handled long enough for this task. The best option is to have their teeth checked at their regular check-up. Cats do a pretty good job of keeping their teeth relatively clean by licking their teeth with their rough tongue. But plaque can build up & when it does, it's hard to remove. A dental exam, under appropriate anesthesia/sedation, allows the veterinarian to remove plaque & perform a thorough examination of the teeth & gums. Then maintenance brushing can be done at home by first getting the cat used to having something in its mouth (put tuna on your finger and rub its teeth for a few days) then follow the general instructions above. Not only are cats very temperamentally unlike dogs, they have sharper claws!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!