How To Brush Your Dog or Cat's Teeth
By Catherine Forman
If you are starting with a puppy or kitten, your job will be much easier. An adult dog or cat will be much more reluctant to let you stick your fingers in their mouths. But the first thing you need to do is get your pet used to the idea of fingers near mouth and toothpaste in mouth.
- Pick a time when you are both relaxed. Maybe after a meal, when the pet will be a little less energetic.
- Cuddle the animal on your lap and gently stroke their cheeks with your finger.
- After a few sessions of cheek-stroking, introduce the pet-safe toothpaste. Put a dab on your finger and let them sniff and/or taste it. Pick a flavor that you think will be pleasing to your pet.
You can use a brush, your bare finger, or any number of tooth-cleaning apparatus. But please don't jam it right into your pet's mouth. Start with just the easily accessible teeth, and gradually increase the cleaning area. If you or your pet start to get agitated, it's time to stop for the day.
You want tooth brushing to be a positive experience, something your pet looks forward to as bonding time! Praise them for good behavior as you go, and give them a special treat afterwards. The more pleasant it is for your pet, the easier it will be for you!
Keep in mind that a large portion of everyday cleaning is done by chewing -- gnawing on a rawhide, worrying a stuffed toy or rope, or crunching on biscuits and kibbles. All of these chewing activities help keep your dog or cat's teeth clean and healthy, but you can ensure even better oral health by brushing your pet's teeth twice a week.
Feedback About This Post:
what about our TEETH!!
Nice steps on how to go about brushing their teeth. I have often noticed that even we tend to neglect how to correctly brush our teeth.
Have a look at the following article which shows a step by step procedure on how to brush our teeth:
http://dentalhealthsite.com/how-to-correctly-brush-your-teeth/">How to brush teeth
Post By marla (Guest Post)
Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer: http://www.thriftyfun.comdisclaimer.ldml If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.