Keep your pet smiling by taking care of their dental and oral health! Daily teeth brushing and regular professional examinations by your primary care veterinarian will help keep your pet healthy and help avoid a range of oral health issues, from bad breath to periodontal disease and much more.
In honor of Pet Dental Health Month, here are some tips from our veterinary dentistry teamled by Dr. Colleen Fox, about how to properly brush your dog’s and your cat’s teeth!
Five Tips for Brushing your Dog’s Teeth
- At first, get your dog used to brushing by just rubbing your fingers on the outside of the teeth. Keep sessions short and offer a reward after.
- Once your dog seems more comfortable, you can use gauze that will help remove more of the tartar and plaque buildup.
- After a few sessions with the gauze, progress to a doggy toothbrush or finger brush. We recommend using Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) approved toothpaste and dental products.
- Brush your pup’s teeth daily. You should be able to brush the entire mouth in under a minute.
- Make the tasks enjoyable and offer some healthy treats after, including VOHC approvedtartar control treats or rawhide.
Click here to watch a teeth-brushing demonstration with one of The COVE’s canine dental patients.
Five Tips for Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth
- To get your kitty comfortable, we recommend starting with a face or head rub. Then gently rub your fingers on the outside of the teeth, which will help remove some of the tartar and plaque.
- Lift your feline onto a high surface (a table or even a washing machine) to keep them controlled during the cleaning.
- Start brushing from the back to the front, to keep your cat comfortable and to avoid any nervous bites.
- After a few short daily sessions with your fingers, you can start using dry gauze and eventually add VOHC approved feline toothpaste and try using a kitty toothbrush.
- Even though the first few attempts might be difficult, it is important to brush your kitty’s teeth daily, so stick with it!
Click here to watch a teeth-brushing demonstration with one of The COVE’s feline dental patients.
We hope you find the above tips and video tutorials helpful and that they will motivate you to start brushing your furry family member’s pearly whites. Throughout February, for Pet Dental Health Month, share photos of your dog or cat’s healthy smile on social media with #TheCOVEVets or tag The COVE on Facebook.
Is your pet in need of advanced dental services? The COVE’s dentistry team offers a full range of procedures from root canals to tooth extractions to oral surgery and more. We will work with your primary care veterinarian to provide quality and expert care. Please call 757.935.9111 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
About Us
The COVE’s veterinarians and staff wholeheartedly embrace the core values of community, collaboration, commitment, compassion, and integrity. This focus ensures that pets, the people who love them, and their primary care veterinarians have as positive and affirming a healthcare experience as possible, regardless of the circumstances that bring us all together.