[Jacqueline]

when my dog was a puppy i tried and tried to brush his teeth. eventually i just gave up because no matter WHAT i did - it wouldn't work. i could not get him to stay still, or keep his mouth open for that matter. doing some research online, they say to start brushing your dogs teeth during puppyhood so he will be used to it and you won't have any problems when hes adult. wellllll, this obviously didn't work out for me. now that hes an adult, he STILL wont let me brush his teeth. i took him to the vet last week and she said he has some tartar buildup. if i cant brush his teeth, is there any other methods out there i could try to get them clean? i dont want my dog to have his teeth extracted when hes older. there must be something out there i can do to keep his teeth clean besides using a finger toothbrush/reg toothbrush. thanks so much for the help!!!

[cigwyllt]

Here in the UK you can get chews that clean the teeth as they are chewed but raw bones are also good for cleaning as well. Actually the worst fight my dogs have ever had have been over the teeth cleaning chews - they have been more possessive over those than over anything else, bones included! But if you only have the one dog or you give them separately then teeth cleaning chews could be the way to go.

[angiesample]

Greenies are great to use to keep ur dogs teeth clean and heathy. My vet is always so shocked with how white and clean my dogs teeth are... its all about the greenies!!

[StarryEyedTiGeR]

Don't give up yet! Patience is key to acclimating your dog to new things. Anytime I get a new dog, I immediately make the toothbrush something they associate with positive things, it's soo important for good health. Before you ever attempt to brush the dogs teeth, try putting a little pinch of peanut butter on the bristles and letting the dog get used to the idea that "hey, when I touch this, something good happens and I get a treat". Let the dog come to you and check out the toothbrush, don't force it or chase after the pup or you might reinforce the idea that bad things happen when you break out the toothbrush.

Once the dog is used to the sight of the toothbrush, see if he/she will let you get it's mouth/face area and then offer a treat each time it lets you. After a few days you should have the pup warmed up to the idea of the toothbrush and you working around the mouth area. Not sure what kind of brush you tried to use before, but most pet stores sell several different varieties you could try. (I like the "bamboo quad brush" for my dogs and the little slip on finger toothbrushes for my cats (yes, they get their teeth brushed too and are ok with it). Once your dog is comfortable with the toothbrush /peanutbutter combo, switch to a non-foming flavored toothpaste that's animal safe. Let the dog warm up to the taste of that for a day or two and then slowly try brushing a few teeth- offer rewards afterwards and keep the time you devote to the teeth brushing short at first...slowly build up the time over a few days and keep it positive so that the dog associates getting its teeth brushed with a good thing. That's what I've done for all of mine in the past and with patience and consistancy, it works like a charm. Try not to give up yet.

[Lara's mom]

I had no luck with tooth brushing either. It was a constant fight and we were both covered in doggie toothpaste by the end of it. My vet said that a healthy diet and lots of healthy chewies were just as good. My border Collie/Spaniel X who is now 13 years old has never required any dental work and my little shorty Jack who is going on 3 years old has beautiful teeth. I make sure that they get a dental exam as part of their yearly check-up, just to be sure.

[PMB]

I have been cleaning my dog's teeth with toothbrush and doggie toothpaste with success. And I am now using an electric toothbrush. It took a little time for my "girls" to become used to the practice. Most important thing was, get used to the taste of the paste, and, never press or scrub. Be as gentle as possible and not be nervous about it. So far, my new "girl" hasn't chewed the toothbrush head and I believe she nearly enjoys it! (Rechargable Braun dip head in water first) Hope this might help someone.

[pawbites]

It's really hard for me to give my dog a clean teeth. My house dogs refused to have some toothbrush using a dog toothpaste, because they don't like it. However, one of my dogs (Sweet) always suffered very bad breath which my dad bought some medicine or chewing material from the veterinarian to maintain a clean breath, but not the teeth. My other two house dogs (Sutay and Sitoy) are not having so much bad breath, but still I need to find a way to make thei teeth clean.

[tigger1728]

Jacqueline,

I have four babies, 3 Westies and a Puggle. I'm brushing their teeth as much as I can but I found a treat that helps. Science diet has a teeth cleaning food and treats. I don't use Science Diet as their normal food but the treats are stating to help out with their teeth. My babies like the bigger size, it's the bag with the Husky on it. I hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Jacqueline

when my dog was a puppy i tried and tried to brush his teeth. eventually i just gave up because no matter WHAT i did - it wouldn't work. i could not get him to stay still, or keep his mouth open for that matter. doing some research online, they say to start brushing your dogs teeth during puppyhood so he will be used to it and you won't have any problems when hes adult. wellllll, this obviously didn't work out for me. now that hes an adult, he STILL wont let me brush his teeth. i took him to the vet last week and she said he has some tartar buildup. if i cant brush his teeth, is there any other methods out there i could try to get them clean? i dont want my dog to have his teeth extracted when hes older. there must be something out there i can do to keep his teeth clean besides using a finger toothbrush/reg toothbrush. thanks so much for the help!!!

[Ghst]

You could use the raw-hide bones, available at many stores where you find pet supplies. Chewing these bone shaped, dried rawhide chews has always worked, keeping my dog's teeth clean. It also gives them something that is "ok" to chew when they get bored.

[Lunareclipse]

Buster chewed up all of toothbrushes. His teeth are really clean now.

[DawnieDogg]

A new product recently arrived at Petco's Grooming Salon. I've been working @ the same location going on 10 yrs now. Being a groomer, I know how important it is to practice regular dental care w/ your dog's teeth & gums. I've always used a doggy approved toothpaste and a long double sided toothbrush. Brushing your dog's teeth regularly will help reduce the chances of developing early stages of gingivitas. Any hoot...the new product is called the 2 step dental gel, instead of paste, & a doggy safe mouth wash spritz. The differences between the 2 products is that once the gel is put into the dogs mouth for brushing & starts 2 mix with his saliva, it creates enzymes that have been proven to break-thru tarter & plaque far more quickly then paste does. With noticeable improvements with teeth whitening and freshness of breath. That's step 1. Step 2 is to finish with a few squirts of doggy mouthwash spritz. Perfect finishing touch. The same manufactor also makes a green, mint flavored liquid that contains the same ingredients as the gel, that you can add to your dog's water bowl everyday. I've personally use this product on my own dog. I combine the dental care w/ Wellness Senior Premium dry food & a greenie once daily. My Shih-Tzu, Dollar, is 11yrs old and almost doesn't even have a tint of yellow on her teeth. Her breath is always fresh too! Well....not in the mornings!