Ah, the joys of dog ownership. Collecting little baggies of fun on your daily walks, apologizing to the neighbor for the loud barking your furry friend lets out whenever he sees a (shhh! Don’t say it!) squirrel, and, of course, brushing his teeth. There are many wonderful moments provided by your pooch, but the time spent in doggie dental care might not rank high on your list of favorites. Which is why most owners (gulp) tend to skip it. There are so many questions: “How do you brush dog teeth?” “What do you use for dog teeth cleaner?”

The fact of the matter is this: your dog’s overall health depends on the health of his teeth. Sounds crazy, but just like with humans, poor dental health can cause a wealth of other health problems , including heart, liver and kidney disease. So, of course, it’s critical that you incorporate dental care into your dog care routine (including brushing your dog’s teeth and offering toys and treats that promote good dental health ), but it’s also important to schedule a dental cleaning with your veterinarian.

What is the cost of dog teeth cleaning? How much does it cost to have your dog’s teeth cleaned? And how often should you have your dog’s teeth cleaned? First, let’s talk about what is involved in a dog dental cleaning.

What Happens During a Dog Dental Cleaning?

Exam, X-Rays and Bloodwork

As with any procedure, a dog dental cleaning begins with a thorough examination by your veterinarian and x-rays of the mouth are taken to asses any damage beneath the gumline. Because a dog must be sedated to undergo this type of treatment (and really, who wouldn’t want to be a little sedated at the dentist?), most veterinarians require a bloodwork panel to check for anything that might cause a negative reaction to anesthesia. Your dog must be healthy enough to be sedated to be treated, so don’t skimp on this important step. Also keep in mind that with any anesthesia, fasting is typically required for some time before the procedure, so make sure to follow your vet’s instructions about removing food and water from your pooch for the allotted time prior to the cleaning.

The Cleaning

After your buddy has been deemed ready, anesthesia will be administered, and the cleaning begins. First, a technician will remove any large pieces of tartar (that gross white, brown, yellow, or orange material that gathers on the teeth). After the tartar is scraped away, the teeth are analyzed for signs of infection or disease and a decision is made regarding the best course of action, such as whether there are any teeth that need to be removed. Once any of the more serious issues are addressed, the plaque removal begins, typically done with an ultrasonic scaler (a dental tool that vibrates at a high speed). Most plaque is made of bacteria, so leaving it below the gum line is a quick route to gum disease for your pup. An infection here can spread through the blood stream to the heart, kidneys, or liver, so removing this plaque is the most important step of the dental cleaning. Dental probes are then used to measure the depth of the pockets between the tooth and the gum; deep pockets here indicate periodontal disease. The teeth are then polished and treated with fluoride, which helps prevent future tartar and plaque build-up. Sometimes after this step, a sealant is applied to the teeth that helps keep out future tarter and plaque. Finally, your fur baby will spend a little time in recovery and then will need plenty of love and kisses once returning home. When considering the described treatment here, remember that every veterinarian practices differently, so talk with your vet about what to expect.

What is the Cost of a Dog Teeth Cleaning?

The simple answer is anywhere from $150 to $500 without extractions, which is a pretty big range. While prices will vary from vet to vet, there are a few factors that play into the cost of the procedure, including:

• Your Dog’s Weight
  This seems like a simple factor, but a heavier pet will require higher dosages of all medication, including anesthesia, all of which adds on to the cost of dog teeth cleaning.
• Your Dog’s Age
  Older dogs may require more extensive pre-procedure bloodwork and screening, which may end up costing more.
• Existing Dental Damage
  Once your veterinarian has cleaned away the tartar and plaque, she can take a better look at the current state of the teeth and will have a clearer picture of decay or disease. At this point in the procedure, it may be necessary to extract teeth that have gone beyond repair, and these extractions will incur an additional fee, sometimes well into the thousands. It’s a good idea to talk over potential these additional costs with your vet prior to the cleaning so that you’re not blindsided with a bill after the fact.
• Medication
  Post-cleaning medication may be required, including antibiotics to prevent infection or painkillers for post-extraction ache.

How Often Should Your Dog Have a Dental Cleaning?

Well, this all depends on you. The experts recommend a dental cleaning every six months to a year, but that time could be extended if you are caring for your dog’s dental health on a consistent basis. This means brushing at least every other day , providing your buddy with toys that help clean the teeth, and offering treats that clean your dog’s teeth . What better way to help lower the cost of dog teeth cleaning?

Keeping your dog’s teeth clean doesn’t have to feel like a chore when you can offer Whimzees as a fun and delicious way to clean. Whimzees dental treats offer the best way to keep your dog’s dental cleanings fewer and farther between, helping to prevent the plaque and tartar that requires a professional cleaning. Try Brushzees for the ultimate in dog dental care, with a unique design that offers fresher breath and cleaner teeth.

Dog dental chews are a great way of helping keep your dog’s teeth clean. With so many products available the following are 6 quick points to consider when next in the dog treat aisle choosing a chew for your dog. Following these tips will ensure you choose a chew that is tasty and safe but one that is the most effective at removing plaque and tartar whilst keeping their breath fresh:

1. Look at the ingredients:

• Ensure that an edible dental chew contains high-quality natural ingredients to promote the health and wellbeing for your dog as well as keep their teeth clean. The back of a dental chews pack will often highlight if a brand contains non-GMO ingredients as well as show the ingredient list in order of most abundant to the smallest ingredient inclusions. 
• Look for ingredients you recognize like potatoes or chicken
• Avoid non-specific ingredients like ‘meat meal’ or generic ‘cereals.’ These open ingredient descriptors don’t give you visibility as to the source of that ingredient, meaning they are inferior ingredients.

2. Where is it made? 

Knowing where your dog’s dental treats are made gives assurance on the level quality and safety involved in making a chew that your dog will eat. At North American and European manufacturing sites, companies must meet very strict industry standards that ensure the highest quality chews are available to your pet. In other markets such as China, these industry controls may be missing and create a chew with lower quality standards.

3. Have Sensitivities? Avoid common allergens:

Less is more. Some dogs suffer with sensitivities to certain foods or they may occasionally get an upset tummy after eating certain products. For these dogs it’s helpful to choose a product with limited ingredients (LID) or a short ingredient list. LID chews don’t include potential allergen ingredients like beef, dairy, chicken wheat and soy. A grain-free, vegetarian dental chew is often a great solution for food-sensitive dogs. 

4. Scientifically proven:

The overall efficacy of dental chews varies. Look for a chew proven to promote dental health, such as one with the Veterinary Oral Heath Council (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance.The VOHC ensures products that make the list have met their high scientific standards for proving reduction of plaque and tartar. WHIMZEES Dental Chews have undertaken substantial scientific studies and have been accepted for both VOHC Plaque and VOHC Tartar reductions making it a leading dental chews for dogs.

5. Right size chew:

Why? Choosing the proper size dog dental chew ensures the chew has the correct amount of calories for your dog. Dog dental chews should also match your dog’s mouth size. This ensures optimal cleaning and minimizes the chance of your dog swallowing a large piece that could cause stomach upset. 

6. Daily use is key to success:

Plaque can accumulate in as little as 24 hours so just like us, it’s important to support your dog’s teeth with a dental chew every day to keep their teeth healthy. A chew that tastes great and comes in a larger value bag is a great way of ensuring your dog looks forward to his daily dental chew as well as be the most economical solution. 

When thinking of all the things a new puppy will need, most pet parents are on top of the essentials – dog bed, bowls, collars, etc. They diligently research the best foods, they book in their vet checks and vaccinations and sign up for puppy training classes. There’s no doubt that this new pair are off with a  great start to what will be a fabulous life together, but alarmingly most pet parents are forgetting to address the number 1 health issue that will affect their young puppy as he ages—his teeth!

Puppy and Dog Oral Health- Importance of Establishing a Routine

• Puppies are born with no teeth and develop sharp puppy teeth after a few weeks.
• Their permanent teeth grow in at 4-6 months. Not many puppy owners will report to seeing the baby teeth fall out, but every new puppy owner will testify to their new pup’s desire to chew everything in sight during these teething months to help ease their discomfort. 
• Whilst stocking up on chew toys is a given, the other, more important consideration is establishing a daily tooth cleaning routine with your puppy.  
• Bacterial plaque starts to accumulate on teeth within 24 hours and if not removed each day this plaque will harden to form tartar.
• Dental disease progresses from tartar to gum inflammation, bad breath, loosening of the tooth attachments and significant pain.

Dental disease affects 80% of adult dogs and 96% of senior dogs.  

This graphic shows a healthy dog’s mouth, along with examples of what early and advanced dental disease looks like in dogs.

To ensure your new puppy is not going to end up with poor dental health as an adult, the best thing a new pet parent can do is start cleaning their dog’s teeth at 3 months old, or as soon as adult teeth start to come in. So how do you do it? Here are 5 tips and tricks to make daily dental time a breeze:

1. Start brushing their teeth from when you first bring your new puppy home

In the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life they are learning so much about the world around them. Getting them used to having you open their mouth and brush their teeth at this age will ensure they are more  tolerant of it as they age.

2. Brush the right way

There are several different brushes or finger brushes available, but the most important factor is to ensure that in time, you are able to brush all your ’s teeth both front and back on both the inside and outside of each tooth.

• Start by rubbing your finger around their mouth
• Move to a finger brush
• Progress to a toothbrush to help reach the back teeth.
• Use dog-specific toothpaste for safety and a flavor your puppy will like. Human toothpaste is not safe for dogs.

3. Incorporate a way for your dog to clean his own teeth

This pup is enjoying a WHIMZEES Brushzees dental treat while cleaning his teeth.

Whilst brushing your puppy’s teeth is the gold standard technique for keeping his teeth clean, we know it’s one of the least favorite parts of owning a dog for most pet parents.

In fact, only 2% of pet parents brush their dog’s teeth each day.

To help combat dental disease, an alternative to brushing is letting the dog do all the work with a dog dental chew. Scientifically-proven and VOHC accepted dental chews are a great way to look after their teeth each day while giving them a treat they love. The other important thing when it comes to puppies is to ensure the dental chew you give is suitable for puppies as young as 3 months. This is key to make sure the chews are the right amount of calories, and a safe texture and size to suit their developing mouths. 

Once your puppy has reached nine months, you can switch to an adult dog dental chew that is the right size for your dog based on their weight. WHIMZEES All Natural Daily Dental Treats are made with non-GMO ingredients, are vegetarian and grain-free. WHIMZEES are proven to be twice as effective as leading dental health chews.

4. Make sure it is daily

Plaque can accumulate in as little as 24 hours so just like us it is important to support your dog’s teeth with a dental chew every day to keep their teeth healthy. A chew that tastes great and comes in a daily value bag is a great way of ensuring your dog looks forward to his daily dental chew as well as be the most economical solution.

5. Don’t delay!

A puppy grows so much in his first year that by the time he has his first birthday it is the equivalent of 15 human years! Hence just starting to clean his teeth a few months later in his life can quickly become the equivalent of starting to brush his teeth only when he is a teenager. That’s why it’s best to start your puppy’s oral health care routine at 3 months old.

Doggy breath is something no pet parent wants to face, especially when your dog tries to cover you in kisses. Many pet parents may consider stinky dog breath just a normal reality of having a dog, but that’s not the case. In fact, bad dog breath can be a key sign that your dog may be suffering from a more serious health concern such as dental disease, diabetes or kidney and liver disease.
Here are 5 quick tips on how to keep your dog’s teeth healthy and their breath fresh:

1. Take your dog to the veterinarian annually:

The most common cause of bad dog breath is poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease. Your veterinarian is also your dog’s dentist, so ensuring your dog has their annual checkup is key to keeping them healthy. Should there be signs of dental disease, your vet can perform a professional cleaning. During this procedure, your vet will remove plaque and tartar, evaluate and resolve mouth infection and extract any loose or compromised teeth. This will not only have your dog feeling a whole lot better, but it helps reduce the overall bacterial presence that were key contributors to your dog’s bad breath.

2. Keep their mouth clean – Brushing:

It takes as little as 24 hours after a professional cleaning for bacteria to start accumulating on teeth as plaque. To help keep this in check, the gold standard technique is to brush your dog’s teeth every day with special doggie toothpaste (never use human toothpaste). Brushing mechanically removes plaque from the teeth, leaving them clean and leaving the mouth smelling fresher. 

3. Keep their mouth clean – Dental Chews:

This Labrador dog loves WHIMZEES Brushzees!

For most pet parents, the thought of brushing their dog’s teeth creates feelings of anxiety and stress. Hence, it’s not surprising that only 2% of dog parents brush their dog’s teeth every day. An easier approach to cleaning your dog’s teeth is to use a scientifically proven dog dental chew like WHIMZEES Dental Treats. These dental treats work like a toothbrush because as a dog chews the treat, the WHIMZEES rubs against the teeth to remove plaque and bacteria. Best of all, designed with ridges, grooves and nubs, WHIMZEES Dental Treats ensure the treat reaches the whole mouth including the back teeth which are usually hardest to reach.

WHIMZEES dog dental treats help target hard-to-reach back teeth.

4. Keep an eye on what he eats and drinks:

We all know dogs tend to eat some inappropriate things if given a chance such as feces, garbage or other stinky substances. Should this be your dog, ensure their yard is always clean, they are kept on a lead during walks and that they no longer have access to garbage bins. Prevention is the cure on this one!

5. Keep them healthy:

Feeding your dog a high-quality natural, balanced diet and providing them with plenty of water, activity and exercise is key to keeping them in good health. Along with these daily habits, be sure to visit the vet at least once a year to ensure your dog is at an optimal weight and to check for other health problems that could present with bad breath such as diabetes. Should dental disease not be the cause of your dog’s bad breath, the annual checkup can help your veterinarian pick up on the underlying cause of your dog’s bad breath before it gets serious.

Celebrated every February, National Pet Dental Health Month was created by the American Veterinary Medical Association to highlight how important oral health is to overall health, happiness and wellbeing of your pet. If you don’t brush your pet’s teeth every day, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that only 2% of dog owners brush their dog’s teeth on daily despite recommendations from veterinarians across the US to do so. As a result, supplemental dog dental chews that are proven effective in fighting plaque and controlling tartar become an important part of a dog’s daily routine.

Why is Doggie Dental Care So Important?

Effective dental care is as critical for dogs as it is for humans. Neglecting oral hygiene in dogs can lead to issues like tartar build up, gum disease, bad breath and other larger health issues like heart disease, lung disease and kidney disease.

When Do Dental Problems Start?

According to US Veterinarians, periodontal disease, a gum disease caused by plaque and tartar buildup, is the most common dental condition for dogs, with 80% exhibiting evidence of the disease by age 3.

How to Prevent Dental Health Issues in Dogs 

When it comes to dental health care in dogs, offense is the best defense. Brushing your dog’s teeth and providing a daily dog dental chew are great ways to reduce plaque and tartar accumulation.

While dog dental chews are not a replacement for teeth brushing, they are an easy, fun, delicious option to help care for your dog’s oral health on a daily basis. Dog dental chews like WHIMZEES allow you to give your dog a treat that you can feel great about because your dog love the taste and chewing experience, and you’ll love knowing that you’re doing something beneficial for your dog’s oral health. 

How to Choose the Right Dental Chew

When looking at dental chews, evaluate them in the same ways you would your dog’s food. Look at ingredients and look at efficacy.
Look for a chew made with all natural, limited ingredients – like WHIMZEES! WHIMZEES are limited ingredient, all natural, and Non-GMO Project Verified, so they’re great for dogs with ingredient sensitivities. They are also gluten-free and contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. 

Photo via @bella_thesillypitty

In terms of efficacy, look for a dental chew with scientifically proven claims. Based on a study at an independent kennel, WHIMZEES are 80% more effective at reducing plaque than leading competitors*. Now that’s a number you can feel good about. 

While daily brushing is best for your dog, a daily dental chew is the next best thing. Bringing a daily dental chew into your dog’s life and making oral care a priority will not only allow you to further bond with your dog, but will also allow you to keep them happy and healthy. 
Not all pet foods are created equally, and the same applies to dog dental chews. WHIMZEES All Natural Daily Dental Chews are a fun, easy, effective way to care for your dog’s teeth, breath and gums every day. Learn more about WHIMZEES today at WHIMZEES.com, or visit your local pet store or e-commerce website to learn more. 

Cats and dogs can be particularly prone to dental disease because they often do not have their teeth cleaned as frequently as their humans do. Dental check-ups should be a part of your pet’s regular health screenings. Brushing your pet’s teeth is something you can do at home to maintain their oral health.

Next time you’re at the vet, be sure to discuss the condition of your pet’s mouth. Your vet will explain whether getting a professional dental cleaning is recommended. Regular at-home brushing is recommended for cats and dogs in order to prevent plaque build-up. Plaque can lead to gum disease and, on rare occasions, problems that can spread through the body.

If your pets aren’t used to having their teeth brushed, it may take a while for them to warm up to the idea, but with the right tools and a little patience, you can feel better about your pet’s dental health.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Pet Toothbrush– Pet toothbrushes have smaller bristles and a smaller head. Some of them fit on your finger too. This can make it easier for you to control the movement. If your pet has a smaller mouth or sensitive teeth, even a cotton ball with pet toothpaste applied to it will do the trick.
• Toothpaste – It’s necessary to use special pet toothpaste for your cat or dog. Human toothpaste can be dangerous for pets and make them sick. Plus, pet toothpaste is flavored to appeal to animals, and it’s meant to be swallowed.
•  Patience— Your pet will need to adjust to the idea of having your fingers and/or toothbrush in his or her mouth. At first, you might spend a few minutes every day with a soft cloth rubbing his or her teeth. This can help remove plaque too.

The Process:

• Approach your pet when he’s relaxed. Sit with him in a quiet location and speak in a soothing voice. Next, put the toothbrush to his mouth and gently move it around. It’s ok if you only brush one or two teeth the first few times.
• Try again tomorrow. Your pet will eventually get used to it and will be more relaxed.
• It’s not necessary to brush your pet’s teeth for as long as you would your own. Usually a few seconds is enough to apply the toothpaste which will stick to the surface of the teeth, helping to dissolve plaque, and preventing future build-up.

Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way of preventing tooth decay.

What about you? We’d love to hear your stories about brushing your pet’s teeth on our Facebook page!