When I adopted Bitsy I was looking forward to runs in the park, snuggles on the couch, and belly rubs (for her, not me… although that would be nice). With all of these privileges comes responsibility as well, and I want to make sure that I am taking the best care of Bitsy that I possibly can.  The good news is that dogs aren’t as prone to cavities as humans are. However, your pet’s oral health is still important so I want to make sure that I am taking good care of Bitsy’s teeth!

A lot of people don’t focus much on brushing their pet’s teeth but you may realize you need to give her a cleaning when she tries to give you a big sloppy kiss and you get a whiff of something less than ideal. The best option for brushing your dog’s teeth is using a double-sided toothbrush or finger brush. It’s always good to familiarize your pup with the tools you will be using, so make sure to introduce the brush before you start using it. Let her sniff the brush and taste a small bit of the canine toothpaste. Don’t worry about any actual teeth cleaning the first time around, just focus on the process of making your pup feel comfortable with the idea of brushing and the tools you will be using to do it. I really like a double-sided toothbrush manufactured by Petosan. It is effective and reasonably priced!

Another option is having your pet utilize dental chews. There are many different rules of dental chews with varying degrees of effectiveness. Ultimately, a good dental chew should be tough enough to withstand some chewing and force the dog to really work at chewing. The more your dog chews, the more her saliva is stimulated and that helps clean her teeth and gums.

Make sure if you’re giving your dog dental chews to supervise her. Some canines can get really intense about their chew sessions and can damage their gums, sometimes even causing them to bleed.  We really love a brand called Greenies that you can get for less than $30 on Amazon!

You can also look into getting dental care toys. This is a great option because your pup can have fun with this and doesn’t even have to know that they are good for her! They should be strong enough to endure rigorous chewing and shaped in a way that massage and clean your dog’s gums.  These are not to be used in place of brushing but are a nice supplement. The Kong Dental Stick is one of our favorites and is available on Amazon for less than $5.

If you fail to properly care for your dog’s teeth she can develop periodontal disease which can be absorbed into her bloodstream. This can cause permanent organ damage so you should be sure avoid it. Signs of periodontal disease are bad breath, inflamed gums, trouble chewing, nasal discharge and sneezing, swollen jaw, and plaque. If your pet shows signs of these symptoms you can seek professional help and get a veterinary dental cleaning.

Do you have any other tips for keeping your pup’s teeth in tip top shape? Experiences of your own to discuss? Feel free to share below.