Confidence can built between your dog and yourself in all aspects of life together and can only be beneficial. However, how often do you go near your dogs mouth? And how would you feel if someone pushed a strange object in your mouth unexpectantly?

 

To avoid feelings of fear or uneasiness in both you and your canine companion, try following these easy stages to achieve a happy dog with a healthy mouth. These steps can be followed by dogs of all breeds.

1. For the first few days of beginning your oral hygiene regime in your dog, try gently stroking their muzzle

 

2. When the dog is comfortable with this, try gently lifting their lips up and rewarding them for allowing this

 

3. Once your dog is confident with you doing this, they will allow you to gently brush their teeth. It is debated whether you should use a soft bristle brush or a hard bristle brush to brush your dogs' teeth, but in any case - never use an adult human toothpaste! Use either a child's toothpaste, or ideally, a canine toothpaste.

 

Dog toothbrushes, finger brushes and canine toothpaste are usually available from pet shops or your local vet

 

 

Scaling is not always essential if the dog's teeth are brushed every day. Scaling only removes visible calculus but not that under the gum, which is the cause of diseases such as periodontal disease, infection and tooth loss. Scaling can also score the tooth enamel and can sometimes cause scale to build up more quickly afterwards.

 

However, it is often necessary to scale if the owner has not maintained a good oral hygiene regime. When this is necessary it should be done by a vet or another trained professional.

These images were taken by Flickr member

ayoung102.

 

The image to the left shows a

greyhound having his teeth scaled.

These images show greyhounds before and after scaling and brushing