Teeth brushing

[Alex]

Added a poll to this thread.

[Basenjimamma]

Great thread..I guess we'll attack the teeth today too..line them up and get two brushes ready, one manual and one battery, lets see which one they like..
I don't have any toothpaste worthy for dogs, so will only do water today..
I am really wanting to get the Petzlife paste, or I guess it is gel..for my older dog, his teeth needs it, and his breath too, but my younger; 1 yrs , 10 mo. and 5 mo. old dog, will be Ok with just water for a while, I am assuming. …or should I get them going on petzlife as well?

[tanza]

@Basenjimamma:

Great thread..I guess we'll attack the teeth today too..line them up and get two brushes ready, one manual and one battery, lets see which one they like..
I don't have any toothpaste worthy for dogs, so will only do water today..
I am really wanting to get the Petzlife paste, or I guess it is gel..for my older dog, his teeth needs it, and his breath too, but my younger; 1 yrs , 10 mo. and 5 mo. old dog, will be Ok with just water for a while, I am assuming. …or should I get them going on petzlife as well?

I would, it will only help in the long run. And you don't need much… I would say for the 5mo. old, water is fine until his perm teeth come in

[Basenjimamma]

Thanks Tanza

Well we did it, my daughter and I. We lined them all up one after the other and they loved it..they even got back in line for another round of wet toothbrush scrubbing in their mouths..so funny..
I will get some yumm-o toothpaste and I am sure they wil love it even more..but I am pleasantly surprised as to how well this evenings brushing went over..

[wizard]

I brush Gossy's teeth maybe once a week (she gets a lot of bones otherwise) and I always let her have a dollop of the toothpaste first then use a wet brush with the toothpaste. She's pretty good about it - the very back teeth are the hardest to get to though.

[NerdyDogOwner]

I've actually heard a lot of good things on Pedigrees' Dentastix product.

This one lady at the dog park was informed she had to take the dog to the dentist but she tried out the Dentastix and it actually removed all the tartar, and even some of the dental stone was reduced.

A former forum I was active in also bragged a lot of it as well.

I gave one to Gizmo, and he loved it! Don't know about the effect, but as a treat it sure did it's stuff! It gets REAL sticky, so make sure you don't let them eat on anything you are worried about…lol

[NerdyDogOwner]

Man I hope it gets better. I just started brushing Gizmos teeth since he has started to get his adult teeth.

Boy is it a battle! He twists he head back, and squirms around wanting to escape. It eventually turns into me having to lock my legs around him and hold his head tight to he doesn't twist it away. And like some little kid that doesnt want to eat his greens, he shuts his mouth shut. So I have to get my fingers in there, but he will chomp down on them! Ouch!

I tried with the electric toothbrush, but that scarred the crap out of him. So I bought a dog brush that has 2 sides, that way it brushes the inside and outside at the same time.

But I'm not giving up. Gonna do this every night after his last meal. I also give him a "treat" after. Although not a normal treat. It's a chew stick with some added enzymes stuff in it for mouth hygiene and breath.

[Kananga]

It takes time for them to get used to it. My vet commented how well Kananga does with people inspecting his mouth and face. Normally they are fussy about it, but I've made it a habit to check Kananga's teeth even when I'm not brushing them. It lets him know it's perfectly fine to allow someone to take a quick look.

When I brush I do have to put him on his back and keep him in between my legs, but he calms down.

I highly recommend using Petzlife Oral Gel for in between brushing maintenance. That's an easy thing to apply and will make brushing even more effective.

[nobarkus]

@NerdyDogOwner:

Man I hope it gets better. I just started brushing Gizmos teeth since he has started to get his adult teeth.

Boy is it a battle! He twists he head back, and squirms around wanting to escape. It eventually turns into me having to lock my legs around him and hold his head tight to he doesn't twist it away. And like some little kid that doesnt want to eat his greens, he shuts his mouth shut. So I have to get my fingers in there, but he will chomp down on them! Ouch!

I tried with the electric toothbrush, but that scarred the crap out of him. So I bought a dog brush that has 2 sides, that way it brushes the inside and outside at the same time.

But I'm not giving up. Gonna do this every night after his last meal. I also give him a "treat" after. Although not a normal treat. It's a chew stick with some added enzymes stuff in it for mouth hygiene and breath.

Be careful not to turn it into a forceful event as he'll hate it and then you're cooked. Go easy and just sit with him on the couch, dip the brush in water and let him mouth it without holding him. Move the tooth brush around gently as he nibbles it and he'll get used to the feel. Do this for maybe the first week. I have Buddy so I just swish the brush in a cup of water and comes running over to the couch. I never use force and he may get twisty so I just back off and let him settle down, re-dip the brush in water and let him lick and nibble it.

[tanza]

I agree with Dan, make it a fun time… and start with using your finger to rub the gums and teeth so that he gets used to someone playing with his mouth. Then I would go to the suggestion that Dan made. By the time mine are 6 or 8 months, I just put them up on the bathroon vanity and brush their teeth... While they don't love it, it is not a big deal. But we also have always played with their mouths as babies.... (since in the show ring it is important because the judges check their teeth so they need to be used to people looking at their mouths)

[Alex]

What types of toothpaste if any do you use?

[MacPack]

Chicken flavored CET enzymatic

[DebraDownSouth]

I have found positioning Arwen on her back, bracing my thumb to keep her mouth open, allows me to thoroughly brush her teeth including the back ones.

That said, I am 54, and she is the only dog in my life I have brushed the teeth of. Have fed raw for most of the last 18 yrs, my vets have accused me of having the dogs' teeth cleaned at another vets office. No. But Arwen… issues since she was 4. Even with brushing, twistix dental, wipes and raw, we still have to have them cleaned every 6 mos and she has still lost 5 teeth so far (she is 8). I now brush Cara's just to get her used to in.
But couldn't take poll as not enough options... you left out both brush and have vet do it.

[Patty]

I use Logic Gel but with some of mine can only swipe it round their teeth - however it still seems to do some good. Ialso give them Fragraria for 5 days at a time which does seem to loosen the plaque.

I've also bought some Petzlife but haven't tried it yet.

[tanza]

I use the Petzlife Gel and the spray and like both of them…. the Basenjis, not so much...ggg

[Maya]

I brush Maya's teeth but I have to admit to only doing it maybe once or twice a week, I really should do it more but she hates it…

[dmcarty]

Sprinkle Denta Treat on their food - it's made by Wysong (and they should pay me a commission)

[DebraDownSouth]

Just a quick warning btw… I had used a product, Nolvadent which contains chlorhexidine, from my vet, then found it can CAUSE plaque. I contacted the company, they contacted my vet. After 4 mos without it, Arwens teeth and breathe are amazining better. Usually by the 2nd month after cleaning I started seeing plaque!

[nobarkus]

I just use water and a brush, nothing else. Teeth are white and breath is fresh. Brush a little and swish it in a cup of water, brush a little and swish in the cup. Basenjis like wet things in their mouth. Just keep doing that till you're done. Then wash the tooth brush out under full hot water and a little soap till it's squeaky clean.

[Kananga]

@tanza:

I use the Petzlife Gel and the spray and like both of them…. the Basenjis, not so much...ggg

I just switched to the spray recently, found it's a bit easier to apply (lift each side of their mouth open and spray once, then once on the tongue).

The gel would sometimes slide off my finger when there was a struggle to get Kananga to sit still. :rolleyes: