Cleaning a dog’s oral cavity from plaque is one of the most important elements of pet care. Adult dogs need this procedure once or twice a week for the prevention of dental diseases. However, not every animal owner considers this necessary. Even fewer owners know how to do it right.
rules
As with everything else, you must teach your dog to brush his teeth from puppyhood. Permanent teeth change for a period of four to six months from birth. By this time, the puppy needs to develop a habit of brushing his teeth. The most favorable moment for this is considered to be evening: by this moment the baby has already eaten, run up and tired. This means that he will be much more comfortable with the procedure.
Before starting the process, the dog must get acquainted with the paste and brush in order to understand that these things are not dangerous. Dental products for animals usually smell pleasant or odorless.
Two people should be involved in the procedure. The first holds the dog in his arms, and the second carries out cleaning.
In the process, you need to communicate with the puppy, caress him, praise for his good behavior.
The first cleaning procedure can be carried out without a toothbrush, simply squeezing the paste onto your finger and gently brushing your teeth. It needs to be done every day, gradually increasing the process time.
No need to try to brush all your teeth at once. It is necessary to accustom a pet to such a ritual gradually, covering more and more teeth, until he becomes a habit. After completing hygiene procedures, give your four-legged friend water.
Options for toothbrushes
In any zoological store, several samples of animal brushes are presented. They come in various shapes and sizes.
- Long handle brushes even teeth that are deep in the mouth can be reached. At the ends of the product are bristles of various sizes.
- Tripartite pattern Looks like a wide handle with three flexible tips. It qualitatively cleans teeth from all sides.
- The fingertip is made of silicone. He has very thin and soft bristles, massaging the gums and penetrating into all the cracks between the teeth.
- Electric - runs on batteries or accumulators and cleans fangs in the same way as a human. To prevent the dog from being shocked and breaking the device, you should use an electric toothbrush after the animal gets used to the process of cleaning the oral cavity.
There is also the so-called liquid toothbrush - this is a universal method for cleaning the oral cavity of an animal.
This tool completely removes the unwanted sensations of the four-legged pets from the process, as it is simply added to the water and cleans your teeth while drinking. It is suitable for dogs of any breed and age.
How to choose?
When buying a brush, you should pay attention to the size of the pet. For dogs of small breeds, it is better to purchase not a human, but a special brush for caring for the oral cavity of the animal. For large breeds, a medium-hard human brush may also be suitable.
When caring for a tooth surface, the product should not cause inconvenience to both the animal and the owner.
Otherwise, the dog will experience fear, and the process will turn into a painful event.
Criteria:
- making a choice, one should take into account the size, shape, angle, under which the brush head is located;
- the bristles on the brush should be soft so that the gums are not irritated, but the teeth are cleaned with high quality;
- it is necessary to focus on the sensitivity of the gums of your pet and, based on this, choose the stiffness of the brush.
Storage conditions
The service life of the brush for dogs of large and small breeds is approximately five months. Usually the owner himself notices the deterioration of the cleaning device. It is also necessary to replace the toothbrush that was used during the pet’s illness - pathogenic bacteria may remain on it.
After cleaning the oral cavity, the brush should be rinsed in warm water and put in a dry place. Keeping human and dog hygiene items together is strictly prohibited.
Ultrasonic toothbrushing
If the owner of the pet does not pay attention to the condition of the teeth of his pet, then plaque can appear quite quickly. It will not work to remove the paste with a brush - you will need the help of a veterinarian-dentist.
To make your teeth clean and white, you will need A special procedure in a veterinary clinic - ultrasonic brushing.
It is performed under mild anesthesia. This is required in order to safely clean.
Otherwise, the dog may be aggressive or frightened, will not lie still and wait for the end of cleaning. It is not required to specially prepare a pet, just do not need to feed the dog several hours before the procedure.
Too often, ultrasonic cleaning should not be done, optimally once a year. At other times, the owner must monitor the condition of the dog’s teeth with a brush and paste.
On how to properly brush your dog’s teeth at home, see below.
