Do You Brush Your Doodle's Teeth?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have been reading up a lot about dental hygiene for dogs in the past little while. I have read varying opinions on the subject so I thought I would throw this out there. I guess growing up I had never heard of brushing a dog's teeth. I haven't ever done it with Darwin because I hadn't thought about it. The last time we took him to the vet he complimented us on how nice his teeth were, so I guess it's worked out, but will it continue to? Do you find it necessary to regularly brush your dog's teeth or do bones and chews suffice? If you do brush, how often? Thanks!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

no brushing here. I homecook for him, I bake organic liver treats for him, I cleanup after him, I pick up doo-doo, I brush and bath and take him to dog parks, I organize doodle romps, I buy him dental chews and real bones at various locations, I groom him myself,and he has every vaccination known from Alaska to Florida, since we travel, I medicate his ears and give him fish oil and vit.c and crush those up in his food, I bought a new SUV so he can be comfortable.....No, I AM NOT brushing his teeth!!!! At the very most, i would take him to have them cleaned once a year if needed. No, Not gonna brush teeth too!!!
Didn;t mean that to sound like I don;t enjoy every little thing I do for him, but I really am of the belief (as is my vet) that good foods, bones and chews and healthy living will take care of the teeth naturally. I don't know, maybe I'm ignorant, but are there dogs with cavities and having to have their teeth pulled? Or sick with tooth disease? If they are, what are they eating and how else are they living?
not that our dogs are in the wild, but could you imagine those that are -- brushing their teeth? I know, they also don't ride around in a Lexus either.....but a girls gotta have priorities, don't she?

[Linda and Murphy]

LOL This Murphy loved your post.
He gets a dinosaur sized rawhide bone for Christmas (which is gone in 3 days) and that seems to clean his teeth REALLY well.

[Kim Williams]

We started brushing Parris' teeth when she was really young because our vet recommended it. It is so cute, when we get out the "liver flavored toothpaste" (yuck, LOL) Parris gets all excited and is really good about it.
We probably brush 2 or 3 times a week.
I am like you , that I had never heard of brushing a dog's teeth until we got Parris.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Our goldendoodle is 15 mths old and his teeth are still great and I have never brushed his teeth BUT having said that our late dog Buddy had gorgeous teeth too until he was 8 or 9 yrs. old. The vet told us to start brushing his teeth but it did not work out very well..he ran away every time the toothbrush came out and when we did capture the poor guy we did not do a very good job of it. He just wasn't used to it. So the vet scheduled a teeth cleaning appt. which costs about $800.00!! If there teeth are bad, it can cause heart and other health problems and stinky breath. So-I think I will start early brushing the doods teeth.

[Azure & Muppet]

I think for the first years, they're teeth will naturally be cleaner (they're young and new after all). But as they get older, it becomes more necessary. By that time, if they aren't used to it, it can be quite a struggle. This is similar to our experience with our last dog.

[Nugget's Family]

Our ALD does not know what a toothbrush is.....but she eats incredibly well (raw and homecooked) and has high-quality chews. The vet and vet techs always comment on how beautiful her teeth are and that she doesn't have "doggie breath"! So, we won't be brushing either....unless of course the vet finds otherwise. The way we have to play hide and seek when she sees me coming at her with the ear wash and cotton balls leads me to believe the toothbrushing thing wouldn't go very well! :-)

[Azure & Muppet]

Great question. I never brushed any of our dog's teeth until we got Muppet. We've made brushing his teeth part of our regular grooming routine since he was a puppy, just like brushing his coat, clipping his nails, cleaning his ears, etc. (we do these things about once a week) If you don't brush their teeth, the plaque can build up to where they develop inflammation and gum disease. So the alternative is to get them cleaned by the vet about every year or two, which is an expensive procedure because they have to put the dog under anesthesia. If you don't clean them one way or another (whether you do it brushing at home or pay the vet to do it at a clinic), it can become painful and possibly even lose their teeth. When that happens, they recommend feeding softer food (which can also be more expensive). So we're trying to do better with our dog's oral hygiene, but this is our first dog we've tried brushing his teeth, and so far it's still not happening very well. Most people don't brush their dog's teeth. I think it's the exception that does. It's one of those things most of us know we can or should do, but just don't. I think most people pay to have them cleaned at the vets every couple of years as needed (at least every dog-owner I know does it this way). There's more on this topic in the "Doodle Grooming" group.

[Debbie Penny]

Does anyone know about the drops that you can add to the drinking water in replacement of brushing their teeth. A girl at a pet pharmacy that I go to mentioned to me that she adds drops to her dogs water, but I didn't question her about what they were. Sounds too easy to me. I don't brush any of my dogs teeth.

[Azure & Muppet]

I wonder if they are some kind of fluoride (like what kids sometimes get at school).

[Barbara Burrows]

I have never used this but have seen it at the vet's office.....CET Aquadent. You add it to the drinking water. I do use the CET toothpaste on my two..

[Tamara & Giada]

We use the dental spray..................cleans teeth and freshes breath!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I have had the doggie toothbrush and toothpaste sitting in my bathroom cabinet for a couple months now but haven't given it a try. My excuse use to be 'after her adult teeth come in...' Harlow will be 1 year old this month and has all her 'big girl' teeth. I need to either start brushing or come up with a new excuse. :}