Site Accessibility Features: Skip to page menus

Reset Website Accessibility

 Site Menus Section  Skip to page content 
    


 New Clients  What To Expect
 New Client Registration Form and Cancellation Policy
 Zero Tolerance Policy
 Pet Portal
 FAQs
 About Us  Our Location
 Our Team
 Pet Food Information
 What is an Emergency?
 Pet Services  Medical Services
 Surgical Services
 Preventive Services
 Additional Services
 Wellness and Vaccination Programs
 Health Screening Tests
 Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring
 Nutritional Counseling
 Pet Health  Pet Health Library
 Pet Health Checker
 Pet Insurance
 Pet Food Recalls
 Product Recalls
 Online Pharmacy
 Events  Christmas 2024
 Purina Home Delivery
 facebook

Brushing your dog’s teeth

Transcript of Brushing your dog’s teeth

00:03 Speaker 1: Try to let your dog taste a little of the toothpaste from your finger or the toothbrush. Once your dog has accepted the taste of the toothpaste, begin the procedure by raising your dog's lip with your free hand. Brush one or two cheek teeth in a straight back and forth motion. Try to hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth with the bristles pointing toward the gum line. Work from the back teeth toward the midline of your dog's mouth, then switch to the other side. Try to brush for approximately 30 seconds per side. Generally, only the outer surfaces of the teeth need to be cleaned, because the tongue tends to remove plaque from the inner surfaces.

Download Video: MP4, WebM, Ogg

Teaching your dog to accept brushing will take some training, but will be very beneficial to the dog once he is accustomed to the process. Daily brushing is most beneficial and will help to establish a routine for your pet, but brushing twice a week is acceptable if your schedule can’t accommodate daily brushing.

Instructions

Choose a quiet time and place to start the brushing.
It is best to teach your dog to accept brushing while he or she is still a puppy. If you have an older dog, the process may take a little longer.
First, call your dog to you in a friendly voice.
Start by rubbing your finger or a soft cloth over the dog’s teeth in a back-and-forth motion.
Once your dog is comfortable with this, you may try letting him or her taste a little bit of toothpaste from your finger. Pet toothpaste is recommended and is very appetizing to most pets. It may make brushing more enjoyable for them. Human toothpaste should not be used as it can result in the pet having an upset stomach.
Once your dog has accepted the taste of the toothpaste, apply a small amount to a toothbrush and begin by raising your dog’s lip with your free hand, then brushing one or two cheek teeth in a straight back-and-forth motion. Try to hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth, with the bristles pointing toward the gumline. You will need to open the dog’s mouth slightly in order to reach the lower gumline.
Work from the back teeth toward the midline of your dog’s mouth, then switch to the other side.
Gradually work up to brushing all of the teeth (this will probably take several days). Make sure you reach the big teeth at the back of the mouth.
Generally, only the outer surfaces of the teeth need to be cleaned because the tongue tends to remove plaque from the inner surfaces.
Try to brush for approximately 30 seconds per side.
Make sure you give your dog plenty of praise and offer a treat after brushing. This will make the experience more positive and will make it easier to brush the next time.
A dog’s mouth houses plenty of harmful bacteria, so it is a good idea to wash your hands and the toothbrush thoroughly when you are done.

Site Sidebar: Skip to end of sidebar

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY? Learn More

Our Location

415 Miller Blvd. Havelock, NC. 28532 GET DIRECTIONS

Contact Us

Phone: (252) 447-7119 Fax: (252) 447-7444 Email: reception@havelockanimalhospital.com

Hours of Operation

Monday: 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM Tuesday: 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed

CLOSED M-F 12:15PM-1:15 PM FOR STAFF LUNCH

Please call to schedule your pet's appointment.

2025 Holiday Hours!

Memorial Day:

· Monday, May 26th – We are CLOSED.

Fourth of July:

· Friday, July 4th – We are CLOSED.

Labor Day:

· Monday, September 1st- We are CLOSED.

Thanksgiving:

· Thursday, Nov 27th – We are CLOSED. · Friday, Nov 28th – We are CLOSED.

Christmas:

· Thursday, Dec 25th – We are CLOSED.

New Year’s:

· Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 – We are CLOSED

*Please note Christmas Eve and New Years Eve hours are subject to change. Please follow us on Facebook for updates*

After Hours Emergencies

For After Hours Emergencies, please call one of the following:

Emergency Pet Hospital of Craven-Carteret

(252) 444-1399 1301A E Main St, Havelock, NC 28532 theemergencypethospital.com/

Swansboro Animal Hospital and Trauma Center

130 Phillipsloop Road, Swansboro, NC 28584 (910) 325-8227 sahetc.com/contact/