Dog Breath

[JMR27]

Hi folks, have any of you attempted brushing your dog's teeth?
Any success?

[NoMercy]

I was told to wash the mouth and folds of the gums with salt water. It did make a big difference.

[ttfn]

Hi Judy :)
I would not recommend one of those finger stall type brushes that you wear on your finger ....

[Jules001]

I did, we bought some meat flavoured toothpaste and a special brush - it frightened the hell out of our dog, so gave up. We then tried Dentasticks, but he wasn't very keen on them and would leave them in his bed until they went rock hard, then we would have to bin them, so gave up. We have recently discovered some foaming toothpaste from Tropiclean at Pets at Home and all we need to do is give a quick squirt into each side of his mouth, it then froths up and make him look rabid, but it really has helped both with breath freshness and the whiteness of his teeth.

[JMR27]

Hi NoM - do you mean that I should put the salty water on a cloth and wiggle it about in her mouth?

Hi ttfn is there a story behind this and do you still have all your fingers? :o)

Hi Jules This foaming toothpaste sounds promising - what was your dog's reaction - was he frightened? and how often do you use it?

[Hopkirk]

Meat flavoured toothpaste Jules? - you are having a laugh.

[Ratty2E]

Not much to be honest, although I have always had dogs with tiny little gobs. I imagine if you have a nice big German shepherd type mouth to deal with it's a lot easier. Of course it's best to start getting them used to it whilst they are still pups, but obviously not while they are teething. Some dogs however just hate it and despite being quite experienced in dog wrestling they just won't have any of it. I now use this http://www.petzlife.c...in_page=index&cPath=2 I have found it works well with regular use

[Jules001]

Hi JMR we try to use it daily, but sometimes forget. The first time we used it, he didn't know what to expect so was ok, now he knows, we do have to have two of us to do it, one to open his mouth and the other to squirt, but I think he quite likes the taste, I think it is the squirting noise, he is a bit unsure of.

[Jules001]

Hopkirk - I kid you not - Google it and see there are loads of makes :)

[Hopkirk]

I would like full english breakfast flavoured please.

[lankeela]

you can also use a homeopathic tablet called Fragaria, you give one a day for a month then one a week as a maintenance dose and it loosens any build up of tartar. They are very small and perfectly natural, and only cost about a fiver for 100. If you give your dog plenty of hard bones or pigs ears regularly they should keep them clean. I also give mine raw chicken wings and chewing them helps as they get right in between like flossing!

[JMR27]

Thanks to all of you for your replies - very helpful.
Hi rattyratgirl thanks for the link. I didn't know there were such products on the market. She's a rescue dog - 4 years old and probably not had her teeth cleaned before. If we're not succesful cleaning her teeth ourselves we can always get the vet to do it.
Hi again Jules - that's helpful thanks :o)

[jules77]

I had one of my oldies teeth cleaned by the vet once while he was under anaesthetic for something else, but to be honest, the tartar built up again quite quickly. As Lankeela says, a bone (I give a marrow bone once every few weeks), works just as well.

Petzlife oral care spray works better than toothpaste.

http://www.petzlife.co.uk/

[chaptazbru]

I buy gum and tooth wipes from my local Pets at Home, they smell of toothpaste, and I rub one of them along his gums and teeth once a day. He doesn't mind in the slightest.

[wildwood]

Would this also work on my guppy's teeth?

[JMR27]

Thanks also to lankeela, jules and chaptazbru - your help's much appreciated :o))

[sfby]

Might do, wildwood, but my pirhana was none too keen....