Page 1 of 2

Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:49 pm
by Unkljohn
Do any of you guys brush your dogs teeth? My vet has told me that one of my dogs needs her teeth cleaned badly, and suggested that I start brushing all of their teeth. I don't even want to think about trying to do it. It's hard enough to get my dogs to sit still long enough for me to clip their nails. :roll:

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:54 pm
by Drakeshead
It is important to keep their teeth clean. Bacteria builds up along the gum line and then travels into the body of the dog and can cause illnesses.

I have female that is tough to keep her teeth cleaned. She had her hips x-rayed a year or two ago and at that time I had her teeth cleaned. The others do not get build up on them as they take their time to eat and allow the Euk crystals to clean off the teeth, but she likes to inhale her food and barely chews so the crystals do not have a chance to do their thing.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:08 pm
by franny131
I brush my boy's once or twice a wk and change the water every day so bacteria doesn't build up. Hard kibble helps too instead of soft food. There's a new water pik for dogs out now, I'm considering it, think it would be easier. I just don't like to have my guy put to sleep every couple of yrs for cleaning. There are dental chews, etc. More than one dog would definitely be a challenge. I use the little rubber fingertip with the brush on it and water.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:20 pm
by brandonvet
I always recommend brushing teeth. The smaller the dog, the more important it is. Labs as a breed don't typically have that much tartar buildup. If you can find a way to help keep them clean it will cut down on the number of times you'll have to have her anesthetized. But regardless of what you do your gonna have to have the vet clean them at some point. I agree with the other replies, it is important; gum disease leads to tooth loss and in some cases, severe infection involving the heart.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:40 pm
by godawgs1
My BLF gets severe build up. After dishing out $100+ to get it done at the vet, my wife started using her old dental hygiene tools and doing it at home about twice a month.......this is the ony dog out of the bunch that gets that much build up?????

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:53 am
by Duck Chaser
Do any of you guys brush your dogs teeth? My vet has told me that one of my dogs needs her teeth cleaned badly, and suggested that I start brushing all of their teeth. I don't even want to think about trying to do it. It's hard enough to get my dogs to sit still long enough for me to clip their nails.


So the feathers this weekend didn't help? :)

The wife use to brush our dogs' teeth with some beef flavored toothepaste. Just doesn't sound right does it?

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:40 am
by Unkljohn
Yep, she's the one. The yellow dogs teeth are pearly white but Oaklee has some big time build up. I bought some of that beef flavored toothpaste last night and am gonna give it a try today. Should be interesting... :lol: My vet has said he would do it for $80. I just don't want to knock her out just for a tooth cleaning.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:53 am
by tdaggett
Brushing with a toothbrush is a real pain. Im not sure who makes them, but my wife found some things that look like little cloth condoms with fuzz on them that work great. They are made specifically for brushing dog teeth. Just slip one on your FINGER and scrub away. We do it every other week.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:00 pm
by digger
My vet does mine when they need it and start's them a few day's prior on antibiotics something about the bacteria that come's of the teeth that can make them sick.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:04 am
by 70 sprig
CF uses peanut butter rather than toof paste to brush his dog's teeth .


Y'all don't wanna know what he uses for a tooth brush .

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:14 am
by donia
tdaggett wrote:Brushing with a toothbrush is a real pain. Im not sure who makes them, but my wife found some things that look like little cloth condoms with fuzz on them that work great. They are made specifically for brushing dog teeth. Just slip one on your FINGER and scrub away. We do it every other week.


My wife got some of these from Foster & Smith along with some chicken flavored toothpaste and the finger brushes: We've got a "recycler" who tends to have s^$tty breath-literally.... :oops:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=9819

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:10 pm
by CF
70 sprig wrote:CF uses peanut butter rather than toof paste to brush his dog's teeth .


Y'all don't wanna know what he uses for a tooth brush .


smart axe!

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:10 pm
by S Turn 2
Man we brush our weekly as well. I know doing it will help your dogs overall health. I got a tooth brush made for the dogs(works ok) and then I buoyght the little rubber finger cover with bristles that seems to be easier to use. They got flavored toothpastes as well that seems to help in getting the dogs to act right while brushing their teeth.

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:06 pm
by dbramlitt
My wife is a dental hygienist as well and she made an appointment for your two labs at the vet. They put them under and gave them the cleaning. I had to do some cleaning of my own when I got the bill. :lol:

Re: Cleaning a dog's teeth?

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:58 am
by Boogerden Boy
my girls teeth were pretty bad when ig to her back from the trainer, course the only thing she had there was food. I give her a big rawhide every so often and her teeth have stayed pretty clean. I've always heard that if you give them somethin to chew on other than food that it will help