With February being National Dental Health Month we wanted to touch on other family members with teeth. Namely your pets!! Adult dogs have 42 teeth and adult cats have 30. When was the last time your pet went to the vet for a cleaning? Dogs and cats can get cavities and gum disease just like us! They can also develop loose and abscessed teeth. Abscesses are infections that can get into the bloodstream and travel to other organs and can cause serious health problems. Good news is that you can help to prevent these problems right at home with brushing! Yes, I said brushing. Using proper tools to do so make the job a lot easier. First you need to use toothpaste developed for dogs or cats. They will try to swallow it and our toothpaste is not for consumption. It comes in yummy flavors like chicken, peanut butter or even fish.  You can also purchase a stiff bristled toothbrush or nubby finger brush.

Best results with your pet‘s cooperation is if you start young but you can teach an old dog new tricks too! Grasp their head and start with lifting the upper lip. If you have a large dog you can try to straddle it. If you have a small dog it may be easier to pull them into your lap. If they try to fight you, you may need someone to help hold their head. Put a dab of paste on the brush and using circular motions, focus near the gum line. Your dog will probably be busy trying to lick the paste and the brush.

For cats, you may need to wrap them in a towel and approach this slowly to avoid a bite or scratch injury. You can start with one tooth and gum and each day increase the number of teeth you clean until kitty gets used to you being in their mouth. Keep using positive reinforcement!

Brushing their teeth once or twice a week will help maintain the cleanliness. Giving them hard treats to chew on will also aid in keeping the tartar off. Taking your pet to the vet once per year works well to get off all the buildup that you can’t remove. They will be put under general anesthesia and wake up to clean fresh doggy/kitty breath. Consult your vet for details regarding your pet’s specific health.

Enjoy your new way to bond! Your pet will love you for it!