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Do you brush your dog's
teeth? I suspect not.
Brushing your dog's teeth
or, for that matter, your cat's teeth is good
preventative care.
Many of you have had your
pet's teeth cleaned and have realized that the work to
repair them can be extensive and expensive. Why not
prevent potential problems?
Donna from Windsor,
Calif., is looking for guidelines to get started with
Skip, her Yorkshire terrier. Donna has done her research
and knows Yorkies are prone to dental disease. She wants
to take the offensive and start Skip early on the
brushing habit. So far, Skip has not been receptive.
We've all heard the
saying that "you can't teach an old dog new
tricks," and while this is not true, it is easier
to teach dogs when they are young. I liken a young dog
to a piece of clay ready to be molded. As it ages, the
clay becomes less and less pliable.
When teaching a dog to
accept tooth brushing, I recommend staging. The first
stage involves the introduction of your index finger
along the teeth and gum margins of the mouth between the
cheek and the teeth and moving your finger in and out.
This should be done daily for four days or so.
The next stage involves
the introduction of toothpaste onto your index finger
and then performing the brushing strokes. Get toothpaste
formulated and flavored for your dog. Poultry flavor
works well. These pastes are available through your
veterinarian and possibly in pet-supply stores. The
final two stages involve the introduction of the
toothbrush and then the toothbrush with the toothpaste.
The key is to make
brushing part of a routine.
In the case of an older
dog, I will sometimes use bribery. The type of bribery
depends on what your dog enjoys. Maybe it's a walk right
after brushing or perhaps some type of treat. There are
dental treats available that, when given after brushing,
will not defeat the purpose of brushing in the first
place.
So, have at it, Donna,
and I guarantee you your efforts will improve not only
Skip's dental health, but also his overall quality of
life, especially down the road a few years.
———
(Jeff Kahler is a
veterinarian in Modesto, Calif. Questions can be
submitted to Your Pet in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto
Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto CA 95352.)
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