This guide will walk you through the description of each grooming and care need. It also provides information on frequency, supplies, and guidelines to follow for each process.

Oral Hygiene

Description:

Dental disease is one of the most common concerns that veterinarians see in their patients. The best way to prevent dental disease is to routinely brush the dog’s teeth. Handling the mouth can be one of the most bothersome tasks for a dog. It is important to start handling the dog’s mouth when the dog is young, even before brushing teeth is necessary. This will help build cooperative care when tooth brushing takes place. When the puppy is just 3 months old, begin training cooperative care techniques using the Body Handling Guide. As the puppy gets older and starts to gain their adult teeth, you will want to start brushing their teeth with toothpaste.

Frequency:

• Once a week

Supplies:

• Dog-specific toothbrush or child’s toothbrush with a compact head and extra soft bristles
• Dog-only enzymatic toothpaste
• Treats

Guidelines:

1. Add about a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the head of the toothbrush.
2. Get the dog into a calm and comfortable position and reward with a treat with one of your hands. Take your thumb and push up on the upper lip to expose the canine teeth and first few molars.
3. Lightly press the toothbrush on the upper canine near the gum line.
   1. The dog may slightly gnaw on the toothbrush - this is normal.
4. Use smooth, circular, and broad strokes as you brush towards the back of their mouth.
5. Focus on brushing the outside of the teeth near the gum line to facilitate the breakdown of debris and tartar.
6. Once you complete the top half section, reward the dog with a treat and then move on to the same-side lower section using the same technique of starting at the canine and moving backward.
7. When complete with that section, reward the dog with a treat and move to the other half of the mouth and use the same technique.

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