Teeth brushing in pets - simple tips and tricks.

Dental disease in pets is a common issue that can lead to serious health problems if not addressed. Therefore, maintaining your pet’s dental hygiene is essential, and regular teeth brushing is one of the most effective methods. But when it comes to teeth brushing - it can feel very overwhelming. It is all well and good for the vet to recommend this, but the truth is - it can be daunting to think about how to do this with your pet. This blog is aimed to help provide some tips and tricks for implementing this with your pet at home.

Preparing for Teeth Brushing

Gathering the right tools for teeth brushing is essential in making your life easier. Consider the following:

• Pet Toothbrush: Designed for pets with softer bristles and angled heads to navigate their unique dentition.

• Pet Toothpaste: Formulated for pets, often in flavors like poultry or beef and will avoid foaming up as this can be very off putting for our pets.

• Positive Reinforcement: Use treats and praise to encourage acceptance of teeth brushing.
  

Training Your Pet for Teeth Brushing:

Introduce your pet to teeth brushing in a very slow and consistent manner with with these steps:

1. Familiarization: Let your pet sniff the toothbrush and toothpaste. You may work on doing this over several weeks and praise/ offer treats as they willingly choose to interact with the objects.

2. Gently Handling Their Mouth: Lift your pet’s lips and reward them with treats. General handling of this area may be unfamiliar for them, so go slow.

3. Introduce the Toothbrush: Apply pet toothpaste and let them lick it off. Start brushing a one or only a few teeth at a time.

4. Gradual Increase: Increase the number of teeth brushed over time. You may also consider starting with a small option like a finger cloth brush, progressing next to a finger toothbrush and then eventually adding in a full toothbrush.
   

The Brushing Process:

When your pet is comfortable, start brushing and consider the following aspects:

1. Positioning: Choose a calm spot where your pet feels relaxed.

2. Brushing: Start at the back teeth and brush in a circular motion along the gum line.

3. Be Gentle: Apply soft pressure and monitor your pet’s comfort.

4. Consistency: Brush at least 2-3 times a week, with the ideal amount being daily.

5. Keep it positive: Remember to take regular breaks as your pet needs, and give lots of treats and praise throughout the process.

   
   

Monitoring Your Pet's Dental Health

Schedule regular veterinary check-ups (at least every 6 months) so your vet can help monitor your progress and guide you in where you may need to focus your efforts. If you notice any discharges, excessive bleeding, or smelly breath, it is important to contact your vet team sooner rather than later. Though brushing requires time and patience, the health benefits are significant, ensuring your pet enjoys a happier, healthier life in the long term.

Written by:

Dr Tegan Hadley

BSc (Hons), DVM