A Word About Tooth Brushing
Did you know that your pet needs his teeth brushed just like humans do?
Did you know that they can get gum and tooth diseases just like we do?
Well they can and they do! A dogs' teeth need the same care as ours do. As a groomer, you may want to offer toothbrushing as a service to your clients. As a pet owner, you may not even realize that your pets' teeth need brushing or it may just seem to daunting a task.
If your unsure as to how to brush your dogs' teeth, ask your groomer or veterinarian for advice. As a groomer myself, I do not offer this service for one reason - imagine if you only brushed your teeth once every 6 - 8 weeks! A pets' teeth need brushing EVERY DAY, yes, EVERY DAY. This is they only way to prevent calculus from building up on their teeth, which can cause gum disease and loss of teeth, not to mention bad breath. It also helps your pocket book in avoiding costly bills to have your veterinarian clean them. When you have to have your veterinarian do the job it is usually at a critical point and teeth may need to be extracted, costing even more money.
Start teaching your pet when he's young. This doesn't mean if you didn't start young that you can't start at any point in your dogs' life. The training is easier at a young age but it is possible at any age.
Did you know that toothpaste for humans can make a dog sick? Humans do not swallow their toothpaste but a dog won't be rinsing and spitting! Make sure the toothpaste for your pet is made for animals. You can purchase them in many flavors so it will be more acceptable to your pet, and they are sold at most pet supply retailers.
The easiest way to begin toothbrushing for your pet is to get a 'finger brush'. A finger brush is a rubber sleeve that fits over your finger with tiny bristles at the end. You gently put your finger with the sleeve in your dogs' mouth, against their teeth, and gently rub.
After your pet is comfortable with the process you can upgrade to a regular type toothbrush. Pet supply stores carry toothbrushes for pets, usually angled with a large head on one end and a small head on the other. I have found that a regular human toothbrush works well because the head is larger and covers the more of the tooth surface for a better brushing. Also, one tip that I want to share with you is to clean the toothbrush well after use and wet it until soft before your toothbrushing session. I wet the brush with warm water and use my finger to make sure the bristles soften up. Sometimes when the toothpaste dries on the brush it makes the bristles hard and this can be abrasive to your pets' gums and will give him a bad experience. Remember, do not brush with force against the teeth or gums, let the brush do the work.
Start with short sessions at first to get them used to the process and slowly build up. It will not be easy at first but any training requires patience and perservance.
As a groomer, I feel the best you can offer your clients is to sell them items such as toothbrushes or toothpaste that will give the most success in accomplishing the job. This still generates income but, in my opinion, is a better option to actually prevent dental problems for your clients' pets.
Best of luck for a shiny white canine smile! Look for more tips next week!
