Some puppy parents panic about brushing their furry baby’s teeth. Well, the first session is going to be exploratory for anyone. Once you get the hang of it, the upcoming sessions can be smooth sailing.
A proper dental routine takes care of your puppy’s mouth, teeth, and gums. It is essential for a canine’s overall health and wellbeing. Note that dental infections and diseases can quickly spread to other body parts and lead to various health complications.
Consider sticking to a biweekly teeth cleaning routine in the least and purchasing pet insurance for dogs to be prepared just in case. Pet health insurance that includes dental cover allows you to tackle potentially hefty unplanned dental bills with little economic hassle.
Contemplate buying a policy if you haven’t purchased it already. In the meantime, read this article for basic brushing lessons that help keep your canine fur baby’s teeth sparkling clean.
Lesson #1
Even if you offer your pup special treats and bones that help with teeth cleaning, they are insufficient to keep their dental apparatus as clean. Giving chew toys, bones, and treats is undoubtedly a good practice, but these items may fail to reach remote corners and remove the hidden food debris.
So, use your hands and get to those places with an efficient brush. Get into the habit of brushing your little pupper’s teeth so it can chew its way into adulthood and senior years with fewer troubles.
Lesson #2
First, stock up on these basic pet supplies – a toothbrush or a nubby surfaced rubber cap, toothpaste, gauze, or washcloth wrapped around your finger. Finger toothbrushes are cleaning-friendly, and you should consider exploring them.
Use toothpaste made only for puppy use. Human toothpaste contains certain toxic ingredients that can put a dog’s health at risk upon consumption. It is worth noting that a canine fur baby can’t spit, so it will eventually end up swallowing the toothpaste and fall ill.
Lesson #3
Prioritize your dog’s comfort at all times and especially during the brushing routine. Once your pet is seated comfortably near the sink, on the table, or in the tub, lift its upper lip and start cleaning the upper jaw teeth in a circular motion and regions where teeth meet the gum lines.
After that, go all the way back to clean those tough chompers. Once you are done cleansing teeth in the upper jaw, move on to the teeth in the bottom or lower jaw.
Lesson #4
Dog toothpaste is available in various tasty flavors like chicken, bacon, peanut butter, and more. Try a new one every week, learn your pet pooch’s favorite flavor, and consider using that flavored paste to wash its teeth. This way, your doggo will enjoy the session and look forward to more of them.
Lesson #5
Feeding dry food, hard puppy biscuits and offering hard bones or toys to chew will significantly help with teeth cleaning and maintenance.
If you don’t catch up on your puppy’s brushing routine, it is likely that your vet will need to scrape off the plaque and tartar formed on its teeth. This may involve anesthesia and potentially high vet bills. Consider being prepared with pet insurance for dogs, including dental cover, so dealing with such incidents need not be financially burdening.
Pet health insurance is available in many levels of cover, so check the medical benefits of various policies, then assess your pupper’s health needs and your budget before signing up.
