Vets have revealed whether you are actually supposed to be brushing your dog’s teeth. Some dog owners make sure to brush their dogs’ teeth regularly, but others aren’t sure whether they should bother. We humans brush our teeth every day, but of course, animals do not do the same. So, is there a point in brushing your dog’s teeth when other animals don’t get the same treatment? A group of vets has cleared things up.
One Reddit user was curious and asked others if they regularly brushed their dog’s teeth. Many people said that they try to do it as much as they can, but others revealed that their dogs simply won’t let them do it, so they don’t bother. One user admitted: “I tried to brush my dog’s teeth when she was a puppy, but she didn’t like it, and I didn’t want to hurt her, so I resorted to using dental gel, which she also hated. Apart from going to the vet for plaque removal twice a year, she’s been chewing on cleaning treats.”
Another revealed: “I remember when I took my dog to the vet for shots when he was a puppy, this lady told me I should get him used to teeth brushing now while he’s young. I ignored because I was like ‘no one does that’. Now his teeth are terrible and he really needs a cleaning which will be expensive so I’m kicking myself.
Three vets at VCA Animal Hospitals, Dr Malcolm Weir, Dr Lorraine Hiscox, and Dr Jan Bellows, have revealed that you should brush your dog’s teeth, and this is how often you should do it. They revealed that an estimated 80 per cent of dogs over the age of three have periodontal disease, which is an inflammation or infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. This disease starts as gingivitis caused by plaque and often progresses to involve the bony tooth sockets, which can be pretty painful for your dog, and its treatment can be expensive.
While many people don’t bother brushing their dog’s theeth, these vets say thet they should actually get a tooth scrub as much as humans, at least twice a day. However, brushing them three times per week is a minimum for removing plaque.
“It is best to teach your dog to accept tooth brushing while he is still a puppy,” they said. “If you have an older dog, the training process may take a little longer, but it is still worth the effort.”
To be successful, the experts advise you to make it an enjoyable experience for your dog. Let your dog take a bit of toothpaste from your finger, and ease them into the process. However, do not use human toothpaste. You dog will likely swallow the toothpaste, so it’s important to get one that is safe to do so.
