HOW TO START BRUSHING YOUR PET TOOTH?
Did you know that daily tooth brushing is key to the health of dogs and cats? When brushing the teeth daily, we remove the bacterial plaque that is formed in the teeth and gums and that, later, will form tartar, bad breath, which can lead to periodontal disease and even systemic diseases.
But just like you, your pet was not born knowing how to brush teeth! Therefore, it takes a lot of patience and dedication in that first moment. Conditioning should be done pleasantly, as a joke, offering snacks as a reward, so that brushing does not become a stressful time for you and the animal.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with the saga of getting your pup used to the oral hygiene routine:
1. Finger in mouth: Pass a tasty food on your finger and touch it on his gum, making circular movements, in a pleasant way for the animal. Repeat the procedure once a day, gradually expanding the area of action.
2. Toothpaste: When the pet accepts the massage on the gums, apply an animal toothpaste on a gauze or on your own finger, doing the same movements of the previous stage.
3. Finger brush or toothbrush: The next step is to change the gauze to a finger brush or toothbrush for veterinary use. Make sure that the pet is already completely accustomed to the touch in the mouth. Ideally, brushing should be done daily. Learning is easier when the animal is still a pup, but that does not mean that an adult pet cannot be taught either. Patience is the key word!
4. Periodic prophylaxis: Even with daily brushing, there can be tartar accumulation in hard to reach areas of the finger brush or toothbrush, so a visit to a veterinarian for periodic prophylaxis is essential.
In addition to brushing with toothpaste, there are several products that help us a lot and keep the mouths of pets always clean, such as Haliclean, from Mundo Animal Laboratório. The product, in the form of a gel, is ideal for conditioning pups or animals that are not yet in the habit of brushing. It can be applied on gauze and spread in the animal's mouth. Based on sodium hexametaphosphate, green tea, thymol and menthol, the product assists in the hygiene of the oral cavity, leaving a slight aroma of mint. Pets love it! So what's missing for you to start brushing your furry teeth?
By : Dr. Simone Amitay - Veterinarian
