Brushing your dog's teeth  

I don't have dogs, but I do have cats. From what I understand from dog owners and from growing up around dogs, it is very important. It is just as important as brushing your own teeth. You should have his teeth cleaned professionally once a year.

i don't know if it's correct brush the teeth of a dog! however i ask it to the veterinary and him told me that there are a special type of food that u can give to the dog after he have lunch and it clean his teeth

Actually you should bush your dog's teeth. We don't do Kai's as he would probably take our arm off. He doesn't like anyone messing with his mouth. It's hard enough getting a pill down him. Tara on the other hand, would be easier but we haven't tried her yet. We did get a little toothbrush for her though. Just need to get the correct toothpaste. This should be interesting as she just turned 2 years old yesterday. Still very much the puppy.

Brushing your dog's teeth is important for preventing plauque building up, ginvivitis (gum disease) and other peridontal diseases.

Buying a good toothbrush (one made specifically for dogs) and dog toothpaste (they come in flavours such as liver and chicken) and using them on a frequent and regular basis will help to keep your dog's teeth strong, clean and healthy and his/her breath smelling relatively fresh.

The only problem with the toothpaste is that the dogs try to eat it all rather than just letting you brush their teeth, so it is a bit difficult, but training them to keep still and receieve a treat (food, toy, praise etc.) at the end will help.

If you decide not to brush your dog's teeth, try to find a dental ball or dental chews for your dog to use. The dental ball is a rubber toy with little bumps all over it which help to clean your dogs teeth as he chews on it (he thinks he's just playing). It isn't very effective, but is better than nothing at all.

Dental chews are thin chewy things that your dog can chew which will help to clean his teeth while he enjoys eating it.

Plaque builds up on a dog's teeth more quickly if he/she eats sticky foods, so try to avoid feeding him these to reduce the need for teeth-cleaning. Tinned foods may seem more natural, but can play havoc with a dog's teeth (while also often containing to much protein, leading to kidney disease in later life).

As a puppy, a dog should always be handled and socialised so that he/she will be happy to be handled as an adult. Remember to also handle his/her mouth, opening it, pulling the lips back (gently), touching the teeth etc. This will get him/her used to you touching and opening her mouth so that brushing his/her teeth will be easier later on.

You should do this anyway, even if you do not plan to brush his/her teeth later on as it is all good socialising and desensitising.

Good luck!