What do you know about cleaning your dog’s teeth?

Here’s what I knew.

They make tooth brushes and toothpaste for dogs.  I even have one of each.  In fact I had to use the brush once when Delilah got a little greedy in the cat’s litter box.

Yes I know.  EWWW.

Notice I said, ONCE.  Because I’ve never been good about cleaning my dog’s teeth.

Neither Sampson nor Delilah’s teeth have ever been too bad, and I saw a huge difference when we switched to raw and they started crunching on those neck bones.  Additionally I give them the stuffed white bones which they gnaw at.

When Sara first opened the shop at The Mellow Mutt, I bought two of those finger toothbrushes. You know the ones that fit on the end of your finger, I thought, well now that their teeth are pretty clean I can use those brushes and clean their teeth.

Turns out I’m as good at cleaning their teeth as I am at applying ointment.

Go Figure.

I had heard at some point, the vet needed to clean the dog’s teeth.  I also heard that to clean a dog’s teeth, the vet put them under anesthesia to clean them AND the older the dog is, the more risky it is for anesthesia.

Sampson just turned 8, so when he went for his annual exam in October I discussed teeth cleaning with our vet.  She said his teeth really weren’t that bad, although she thought he might have a little bit of gingivitis beginning.  We agreed his cleaning could wait until spring.  Which would give us some time to save up for it (It’s very expensive!)

Last week when I went to pick up treats at The Mellow Mutt, we somehow got on the topic of teeth cleaning and I mentioned how Sampson needed his teeth cleaned and we were going to do it in the spring.

Based on the reaction I got, you’d have thought I told Sara and Diane (the groomer) that I was giving my dogs away.

Why would you risk putting him under anesthesia just to have his teeth cleaned? They asked.

Well he’s eight years old, he needs his teeth cleaned, isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? I responded.

They told me a few stories that really freaked me out.

Diane said, Our vet used to just flink (yes she said flink) the tartar off with a pick.  I’ll clean his teeth, he’s a good boy, why don’t you bring him in and let me give it a shot?

We agreed on Wednesday.

You know me, I second guessed my decision instantly, but still I came home on Wednesday, put Delilah in the crate with a handful of banana chips and loaded Sampson in the car.

Our appointment was for 4:30.

She took us a little late because a woman was there picking up her dog.

We took Sampson into the grooming area and put some towels on the floor.  Diane got some peroxide on a paper towel and put some toothpaste on one of those finger brushes.

 

She said it helps soften the tartar.

 

I sat with him and stroked him and told him he was okay.

Did he like it?

I’m not going to lie, he didn’t like it, but he never snapped or growled and he let Diane do it.

We were done at 4:40 pm.  Less than 5 minutes from start to finish.  I asked her how much I owed her and she nothing.  I told her she could give me a price or I would pay her what I thought she deserved.  She said $10.  I gave her $20.

 

 

As soon as he was done, he jumped up and strutted around the shop.

 

What I really liked about this was I got to stay with him the entire time.  I didn’t have to drop him off (with no breakfast) and wait for someone to call me, we were in and out…..Just. Like. That.

What do you know about cleaning your dog’s teeth?  Do you brush them?  Do you think the benefit of having their teeth cleaned by the vet outweighs the risk of putting them under anesthesia?  Would you have your groomer scrape your dog’s teeth?