Cleaning your dog’s teeth

I recently came across an interesting article written by Andrew Linn on the importance of dental hygiene for dogs. As the once-owner of a Yorkshire that died because of internal complications originally caused by a mouth infection (as is often the case with this breed), I have since been scrupulous about keeping my dogs’ teeth clean.

Although it is not the most pleasant task in the world, taking the trouble to sit down with your dog on your lap and clean its teeth with a toothbrush and doggy toothpaste will usually ensure it lives longer.

Having two dogs and getting lazier as I get older, I thought of using an electric toothbrush for the job, as I personally use one (not the same brush though…). Much to my surprise -and my vet’s when I told him about it – the noise does not appear to upset the dogs and I would even say they prefer to have their teeth

cleaned by the less vigorous use of a small circulating brush, rather than the energetic motions normally necessary with a manual version. I started with a €5 battery-powered brush, which lasted for three months on two AA batteries, but have now upgraded to a more expensive rechargeable version.

For dog-owners who may have been put off cleaning their pet’s teeth by the possible stress and effort involved, an electric toothbrush is the answer. Do your dog a favour, he or she cannot clean its own teeth and whatever they say on the pack of those chews you can buy, only a toothbrush gets into every corner of the mouth.