Does your dog have healthy teeth? February is National Pet Dental Health Month. I thought it would be a good time to go over our dental regimen, and tell you how we keep our chompers in top condition.
Mom has a policy of brushing our teeth every night before bed starting the day we are adopted. We all love it and really never go up to bed unless out teeth have been brushed. We do brush our teeth with our manual toothbrush and toothpaste a couple nights a week. Mom thinks it helps get some of the stuff our ultrasonic toothbrush loosens off of our teeth. We prefer to use a tartar control toothpaste with our toothbrush.
The best thing we have ever found is our Emmi-Pet ultrasonic toothbrush which we use most nights. It is not cheap, you need replacement brush heads, and the special toothpaste, but it works wonders. I did a review of it last spring if you would like to know more about it. The toothpaste is so yummy, and by just holding the brush on our teeth and gums, all the bad stuff breaks up and falls off. It is truly amazing! Our veterinarian said we all have great teeth, Mom just needed to work a bit more on the far back teeth as there was a little plaque build up. We are excited to see if our back teeth are better at our next visit.
Healthy teeth also need to do some chewing. We have hooves lying around the house we chew on from time to time. Bailie is the main hoof nut, but I indulge now and then, Katie doesn’t like them. Our hooves are from Jones Natural Chews.
We also enjoy chews from Raw Paws Pet Food. (affiliate link) We always have pigs ears, dehydrated cows ears, lamb ears and some beef esophagus on hand to chew on in the evening when we are hanging out. We get one or two of these a week each.
Remember, as with humans, we only get one set of adult teeth, so they need to be taken care of. Good dental health also adds to good overall health, and bad dental health can contribute to serious overall health issues. Make sure and visit your veterinarian to find out how your dog’s teeth are doing and to develop a plan of action to keep healthy teeth in top shape.
Wonderful post! I always love hearing what products others are using! Your brushing routine definitely is leaving your guys with some good looking teeth!!! 🙂
Our Emmi-Pet is the best weapon ever and we love to use it too!
Your Mom is SO good about keeping all of your teeth healthy! I hope one day Luke will let me brush his teeth, but right now it’s another thing we need to work on. We’re trying to do better for all of the dogs, but Luke especially since his young teeth are still so beautiful; we want to keep them that way.
Since we all started at about 9 weeks, it is as natural as putting on our collars, but remember to start slowly so he gets used to it, then slowly increase the time and make it a daily routine so he always knows to expect it.
Good reminders Emma – we’ll have to check out that ultrasonic toothbrush.
We didn’t think the Emmi-Pet would really work, but it is amazing and so easy. Katie had some spots that were heavy with stuff on a couple teeth, but within a couple months, it just cracked and fell off. We love our Emmi-Pet.
my momma hopes to get such a toothbrush once, it’s really like a magic wand (Emmi for Emma lol). but till she has enough moneeh in her piggy bank we have to work with an oral b what’s good too :O)
Oral b is for oral care, so why not. The Emmi-Pet is a Germany product, so you should have no trouble getting it over there.
Those are great tips. Torrey likes to have her teeth brushed, but not Roxy.
We all like it. I like it best, Bailie the least, but we all do it nightly.
Nothing beats brushing, but good treats and chews definitely make our work easier in the long run.
Mom says brushing loosens everything up and the chewing scrapes it off. Not sure if she is right, but it works for our chompers.
Brilliant advice Emma!
Thank you. I want to keep my teeth forever!
WE get our TEEFS brushed, TOO. We use a little Two LEGGER teefs Brush…. and our favorite CHICKEN FLAVORED Paste… Gotta have a GOOD Smile, RIGHT?
A pretty smile, kissable breath, and strong teeth to chew with!
You have lots of ways to keep your chompers clean, Emma. I am so glad you take care of that beautiful smile.
Mom is real into making sure our teeth are strong and healthy.I think your chompers are pretty nice too.
You are so right, dental health is so important and hopefully every human will catch on!
We tried brushing cat bro Bert’s teeth too, but he wouldn’t have any part of it.
Bentley loves getting his teeth brushed and Pierre is finally doing much better. Now, if I could only get Pierre to enjoy getting his hair brushed!
Bailie and I both despise getting our furs spiffed, but teeth brushing is a great thing.
Those are some sparkling little choppers you’ve got there Emma – We’re also using ground seaweed in our food and that’s helping to break the tartar and plaque down from those hard to reach places…
Oh my! That is an interesting tip! Where do you get ground seaweed? I’m guessing you buy it, not diving in the ocean for it? Would love to give that a try.
Great post, Emma! Dental health is very important! It’s good that your mom brushes your teeth and gives you things to chew on! 😀
Teeth are so important and for overall health too. We hope to keep our chompers forever.
Good job. Brushing teeth are very important
Lily & Edward
Thanks. It is super important!
OMD, you have a ponytail and a bathrobe! This may be one of the cutest things I have ever seen.
Nothing better than a pretty soft and cuddly robe, and I have to get my ears out of my face so I can brush!
First, I just love that bathrobe, Emma!! We have always had problems letting Mama brush our teeth. She has put her foot down though, and is trying to get us in the habit of brushing once a week. We are also strong believers in Greenies and Himalayan chews to help keep our teeth strong!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Brushing four sets of teeth is a lot of work as we know brushing three sets. Our only thought is that once a week is not a real habit for dogs. If you all want to adjust to it, it probably needs to happen more often and at the same time of day. It is part of our getting ready for bed procedure. Go out to potty, get a small treat, brush teeth, get naked (remove collars), and head up to bed. PS The robe is super soft, warm, and comfy.
Your mom does such a good job with keeping your teeth healthy! I have not done the best job with Ace but with our next pup I plan to start regular brushing every night like you have done.
The first weeks with a pup are not easy, but then it becomes a routine and we all wait for it. We love it, but Mom says I’m the best at it.
Good advice.
We’re big on dental health here!
Great post! Teeth are a very important thing that yes we only get one set of in animals.
You don’t care for them, you lose them and then you can’t chew on stuff anymore. Not good.
The vet checks Mica’s teeth every visit. At 8 1/2 yrs. She has snow white teeth. She eats hard dogfood, chews greenies. Hoofs occasionally and always grass. We are not quite sure what does it but hope it lasts:)
As with humans, some dogs do have genetically better teeth than others, and then the combination of what Mica is eating/chewing must be working. That’s great. Katie has some staining, and a few tartar spots, but she is 13 1/2. We are still pleased with her teeth.