Zoe checking out her toothbrush that will be used on her at Fresh Paws Spa a mobile dog groomer near me.
Dental care, ugh so hard….
Dental care is one of the most important aspects of your pet’s wellness. It’s always the perfect time to check up on their pearly whites.
Regular cleaning, good nutrition, and watching out for symptoms can help maintain long-term dental health. Preventative dental care will help your puppy stay away from periodontal disease. The cause of periodontal disease is build up of plaque and tartar on their teeth and gums. If untreated it can also cause kidney, heart, or liver disease which can have a fatal effect on your puppy, so preventative care is key!
What supplies do I need?
You will want a long toothbrush or the one I like the best is a finger toothbrush. You can also use a kids toothbrush which have soft bristles. Make sure you use toothpaste that is made for dogs. If you use a human tooth paste it has the ingredient xylitol in it, which is a toxic substance to puppies. There are many flavor options to choose from like peanut butter and chicken. You can pick the flavor based on your puppy’s preference.
How do you brush those pearly whites?
Puppies love routine, make this a daily habit. Find the time when you and your puppy are calm. You will first want to train your puppy about brushing. Either sit or kneel in front of your puppy. Do not grab your puppy and hold them down. This will just make your puppy scared. Start by rubbing your fingers along your dog’s gums, this will help them get used to the feeling of pressure. If they do not like it, stop and come back at another time. It may take a long time till they get used to this, just hang in there, they will get used to it. Just take your time! Put some toothpaste on your finger so they get used to the taste before using the toothbrush.
Once your puppy is used to the feeling it’s time to use the toothbrush. You want to come in with the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and start with the top teeth. Gently massage the teeth and gums to remove plaque and tartar build up. Brush in small circles over all of the teeth, top and bottom. As your are brushing give your puppy some happy talk about how good they are. There might be some light bleeding which is totally fine. If there is heavy bleeding could be a sign of gum disease, which you will want to call your veterinarian. In the end you will want to get in 2 minutes of brushing daily. Always end the brushing in a positive way, either with a treat or their favorite toy.
How can a mobile dog groomer near me help out?
It can take several weeks before you can get your puppy in a daily routine of brushing. If you can’t do daily, try at least 3 times a week it will help the overall health for your puppy. Fresh Paws Spa always wants to set you up for success. We can give your puppy a brushing and then you have a toothbrush to work with your puppy till their next groom. You will always get a new toothbrush after their groom.
So at their next groom, add teeth cleaning to your spa day to help in their overall oral health!
