Cleaning the dog's mouth from plaque is one of the most important elements of pet care. An adult dog needs this procedure once or twice a week to prevent dental diseases. However, not every animal owner considers it necessary. Even fewer owners know how to do it right.
rules
As with everything else, it is necessary to teach a dog to brush its teeth from puppyhood. Baby teeth on permanent change in the period from four to six months from the moment of birth. By this time you need to develop a habit of brushing your teeth. Evening is considered the most favorable moment for this: by this moment the kid has already eaten, has run and is tired. This means that he will transfer the procedure much more calmly.
Before starting the process, the dog must become familiar with the paste and brush in order to understand that these things are not dangerous. Usually, dental products for animals smell good or have no smell.
The procedure should involve two people. The first holds the dog in his arms, and the second carries out the cleaning.
In the process you need to communicate with the puppy, caress him, praise for good behavior.
The first cleaning procedure can be carried out without a toothbrush, simply by squeezing the paste on your finger and gently brushing your teeth. It needs to be done every day, gradually increasing the process time.
No need to try brushing all your teeth at once. It is necessary to accustom the pet to such a ritual gradually, covering an increasing number of teeth, until it becomes a habit. After completing the hygiene procedures, give the four-legged friend water.
Toothbrush options
In any zoological store presents several samples of brushes for animals. They come in various shapes and sizes.
- Brushes on the extended handle allow you to get even the teeth that are deep in the mouth. At the ends of the product are bristles of various sizes.
- Triangular pattern looks like a wide handle with three flexible tips. It cleans teeth from all sides.
- The fingertip is made of silicone. It has a very thin and soft bristle, massaging the gums and penetrating into all the gaps between the teeth.
- Electric - works from batteries or accumulators and cleans fangs in the same way as a human. To prevent the dog from being shocked and it does not break the device, it is worth using an electric toothbrush after the animal has gotten used to the process of cleaning the oral cavity.
There is also the so-called liquid toothbrush - it is a universal method of cleaning the mouth of the animal.
This tool completely removes unwanted feelings of four-legged pets from the process, as it is simply added to the water and cleans the teeth while drinking. It is suitable for dogs of any breed and age.
How to choose?
When buying a brush should pay attention to the size of your pet. For dogs of small breeds, it is better to purchase not a human, but a special brush to care for the oral cavity of the animal. For large breeds, a human brush of moderate hardness may be suitable.
The product when caring for the tooth surface 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:
- When making a choice, consider the size, shape, angle at 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;
- you need to focus on the sensitivity of your pet's gums 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. You also need to replace the toothbrush, which was used during the illness of the pet - it can be pathogenic bacteria.
After cleaning the mouth, rinse the brush in warm water and put it in a dry place. It is strictly forbidden to keep human and dog hygiene items together.
Ultrasonic teeth cleaning
If the owner of the pet does not pay attention to the condition of the teeth of his pet, then plaque can appear rather quickly. Remove the paste with a brush it will not work - you will need the help of a veterinarian-dentist.
To make your teeth clean and white, you will need special procedure in the veterinary clinic - ultrasonic teeth cleaning.
It is performed under light anesthesia. This is required in order to calmly purge.
Otherwise, the dog may show aggression or be frightened, will not lie calmly and wait for the end of the cleaning. It is not necessary to specially prepare your pet, you just do not need to feed the dog several hours before the procedure.
Ultrasonic cleaning should not be performed too often, 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.
