Five dental tricks
Here, Fido! Look what Mommy’s got for you…a toothbrush! Exit Fido.
Can it be said that anybody actually enjoys brushing their teeth? Just as we can coerce young children into brushing twice a day, there are ways to get your dog used to having his teeth brushed.
Dr. Sandy Hale, a veterinary dentist in Guelph, Ont., emphasizes the need for regular dental care, noting that good oral health results in better overall health. Dr. Hale insists that a dog’s teeth should be brushed daily – twice daily for those with poor periodontal health. And it’s not just the teeth that need brushing: “Done properly, brushing the gums is highly beneficial,” he says. “It removes plaque and massages the gum tissue, helping to flush fluid and debris from below the gum line. It stimulates fibroblasts [collagen-producing cells] within the gingiva [gum tissue] to produce collagen, the main structural protein of the gingiva, helping to make them tough and resilient. But brushing too hard can traumatize the gingiva.”
How do you get your dog to cooperate or even enjoy having his teeth brushed? Here are five tips:
A puppy will be more inclined to accept daily tooth care. The best age to start is eight weeks, taking a hiatus when your puppy’s baby teeth begin to fall out, so as not to irritate already sensitive gums. Resume when adult teeth are in, and normal. If your dog is an adult, it’s never too late to introduce a new routine, approaching gently and using consistency and repetition. You can teach an old dog new dental tricks.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on specialty canine toothbrushes. Use a child-sized, ultra-soft-bristled brush available at any drug store. The smaller brush head and soft bristles ensure less discomfort and therefore less resistance. And what about flavoured canine toothpaste? Dr. Hale says, “I have yet to see any convincing studies to show that adding toothpaste adds any significant benefit over brushing with plain water. One study in human patients found that the brush accounted for 98 per cent of the effect.” Your dog might like a flavour, though, and the more he likes this process, the easier it will be for both of you.
There is always someone in the dog’s family with whom he has a particularly close bond. This person is likely to be the one the dog will trust to initiate a tooth-brushing regimen. That person should begin as he would with any new training session: gradually and with patience, using positive verbal reinforcement.
Brush at the same time every day, with the same person doing the brushing, and use repeated language to signal it’s time for the daily tooth-care session. Pick a suitable time. If you’re in a rush in the morning and your dog is full of energy, brush his teeth in the evening. Perform the brushing in the same place every time; the kitchen or bathroom are good locations, but provide a non-slip mat.
Save a favourite treat to be given only when the brushing is complete, and not at any other time. Dr. Hale says, “Rewards are key to success with any training program. However, the reward has to follow the desired behaviour within just a few seconds for the dog to draw a connection between cause and effect.” If the reward is good enough, it just may inspire your dog to ask to have her teeth brushed every day!
Begin dental brushing only in a healthy mouth. There is no point brushing teeth in need of professional attention. Get a check-up and perhaps a cleaning done first and use brushing for regular, healthy maintenance.
Brush. Don’t rush. Reward. And smile!
Pamela Delaney is a widely published, award-winning writer. She recently finished her satirical memoir Lives Have Nine Cats and Other Tales of Pet Motherhood. Pamela lives in Cobourg, Ont.
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