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Dog Dental Care

February 27, 2017 by Mary Telesz

Dog Dental CareAll dog owners have a responsibility to make sure that their canine is in good health through regular walks, plenty of water, nourishing food and check-ins with a veterinarian. One aspect of pet ownership that is equally as important as the aforementioned activities but is often overlooked is dog dental care. An infection in your dog’s teeth can cause serious health problems, in addition to pain and discomfort. For this reason, taking care of your dog’s teeth should be a part of your everyday routine.

Providing dog dental care doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. A few simple items can greatly simplify the process, and help your dog maintain dental health throughout his lifetime. This article explores how you can help your dog keep his teeth clean — without losing a finger in the process!

Treats that Clean Teeth

One of the easiest ways to help your dog get clean teeth is through toys and treats specifically designed to clean teeth. Chewing on certain treats or toys can scrape away plaque or dirt on your dog’s teeth, making the daily process of cleaning much easier for both you and your dog.

Consider giving your dog a rawhide or knucklebone. By chewing on these natural treats, your dog will be helping to maintain his dental health while getting a little something special. One of these items could last for days, making it a fairly cost-effective method to clean teeth. There are also many treats specifically manufactured to help clean your dog’s teeth. While they will not replace regular brushing, it can help reduce plaque build-up and make the brushing process easier.

Your dog’s teeth may also benefit from non-edible chew toys. An artificial bone or chew toy — ideally with a rough or bumpy surface — can help get that plaque off of your dog’s teeth. Just be sure that the toy is not too hard and that it is big enough so that it isn’t a choking hazard for your pup.

Doggie Tooth Cleaning

The thought of brushing a dog’s teeth may seem daunting (or even ridiculous) to some people, but the fact is that regular brushing is critical to your dog’s dental and overall health. Learning what you need and how to do it can help make the process easier.

First, gather the supplies you will need. Start with a toothbrush just for your dog. You have options for toothbrushes, depending on what works best for both you and your dog. A soft-bristled human toothbrush may be most comfortable for your dog, or she may prefer a toothbrush made specifically for dogs. These slip over your finger and are more angled. They will give you more control over the tooth brushing process, but do require you to put your finger into your dog’s mouth. Next, choose a toothpaste that is safe for you dog to swallow. This means that you cannot use a toothpaste meant for humans, which has ingredients that your dog should not eat. Experiment with flavors, such as beef, chicken or seafood, to find one that your dog prefers. Finally, you should buy some canine dental pads at your vet’s office or pet store. It is a quick solution to wipe away bacteria whenever you don’t have time for a full brushing. You just wrap it around your finger, wipe your dog’s teeth, and go.

After you have everything that you need, you can start the task of brushing. This requires getting your dog comfortable with having your fingers in or near his mouth. Take the time to work with your dog on this process. An easy way to do this is by applying a favorite snack (like peanut butter) to your fingers, and let him lick it off your finger. Rub his teeth and gums while doing so that he becomes familiar with the sensation. At the same time that you are doing this, work on opening up your dog’s mouth. Put one hand under his jaw and the other on top, and slowly work towards opening up your dog’s mouth. Doing this gently will get your dog used to the idea of you working in his mouth.

Once your dog is ready, get out the toothbrush and paste. Allow your dog to lick and sniff it, and then rub only the visible teeth. Use a circular motion as you slowly increase the number of teeth that you are brushing, focusing on the gum line. After your dog gets used to this, gradually try opening his mouth to brush the back teeth. Give your dog a reward after you are done brushing teeth to create a positive association, and make sure to devote time each day to brushing.

Dog Dental Care

Dog dental care does have to be complicated; it can be as simple as providing chewy treats and making time for daily tooth brushing. Committing the time and energy to brushing your dog’s teeth can result in a much healthier and happier dog overall — and a much easier checkup when he sees the vet! If you would like more advice from a pet care professional, or to learn more about dog walking or pet sitting services, contact Paw Pals today!

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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9am - 5pm
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
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Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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