I want to know: Do you brush your dog's teeth?

[undeterred]

[old mark]

1. No. We give him those twisted rawhide chewers. The vet says they are great for cleaning dog's teeth.

The dog loves them, and his teeth are very clean and healthy after over 6 years with us.


mark

[Connonym]

4. Me too and the vet always says my dogs' teeth look great n/t

[undeterred]

5. I've never met anyone who actually does it

although everyone thinks they're supposed to. Usually the excuse is...you have to start when they're a puppy and we didn't. Well, my dog IS a puppy, and he thinks we're playing when I try to clean his ears- I get it done but its not easy. I can't fathom him sitting still for toothbrushing, and he's not going to do it himself!

[SoxFan]

2. This is the sort of thing you don't ask cat "owners"

I had to brush Brianna's teeth for a few days after she had a broken tooth fixed.

There was blood.

Mine.

[undeterred]

7. Yeah, I don't imagine a cat would put up with such silliness.

And some dogs wouldn't either, unless the toothpaste is pretty yummy.

Edit: If you can't "tutch the but" I imagine you can't brush the teeth either. :hi:

[Inchworm]

3. I tell them that's what biscuits are for

They do the rest themselves.

:P

[femmocrat]

6. I have never found a good doggy toothbrush or toothpaste.

Nothing gets that brown gunk off, short of sand-blasting. (One of my dogs throws up rawhide chews, so I use them sparingly.)

I even got some kind of expensive sealer from the vet and didn't see any difference.

[livetohike]

8. Yes. Every other day and I have two dogs

I went from using the doggie toothpaste to just plain baking soda with a drop or two of water in it. I've brushed their teeth since they were puppies and they are 5.5 yrs old now.

My last dog had to have 1/2 of his teeth pulled :-(, so I'm really careful with these two.

[undeterred]

10. Wow, that's a good warning.

My last dog had bad teeth towards the end (he was almost 16) and I was afraid to put him under anesthesia for cleaning. With this dog I'll be more careful.

[livetohike]

11. Ranger was 10 when he had 1/2 his teeth pulled and he lived to

be 16 :-). His teeth didn't even look bad, but the vet said his "gums were bad". I used to brush Ranger's teeth, too. We also had his littermate and she never had any problems with her teeth or gums. Some dogs just are predisposed to it I guess. :shrug:

[Texasgal]

9. I do it about once every two weeks.

BOstons are known to have crappy teeth so I have to.

[AgadorSparticus]

12. When I had my dogs, I used to do it every few days and they get their greenies.

So they had pretty good oral care. It's important. I'm all about preventative care. Vet bills can add up quick.

[dawgmom]

13. Now, more than ever

A cautionary tale:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8216348

[undeterred]

14. Wow

I am lucky that didn't happen with my old one. The last year before he died he was grinding his teeth a lot so I think something was bothering him. I don't know if I am going to do the brushing but I am definitely going to do the annual cleaning, which I haven't done before.

[dawgmom]

15. I would really recommend it

Both to avoid the vet bills, but mainly because you don't want your dog to suffer, like mine did. Everybody reassured me that dogs don't show when they're in pain, but nonetheless, I feel guilty about it, and I would do anything now to have spared him that pain. All the best.