i don't doubt this for a minute, but I love the convenience of the bones and the dogs enjoy them so much! My vet always comments on their teeth and how white they are! I think this to be a hard habit to break. (for me)So much info out there and so many different opinions, but yes, this is a scary thought! (broken teeth) yikes

I agree with the veterinarian, of course. I guess I would love some suggestions about how to brush a dog's teeth as an adult? We have three rescues, two of which we adopted as adults/seniors. They are not used to having their teeth brushed, and are not fond of having us stick our fingers (or anything else for that matter) in their mouths. We sell all-natural toothpaste for pets at our store, and I know our customers swear by it. Any suggestions?

Great question Aubrey-
I am currently hard at work answering your question about how to go about desensitizing your rescue dog to having their teeth brushed in detail for the next blog.

Training a puppy or kitten to have its teeth brushed is easier than training an adult pet, but it can still be done. It requires patience, lots of praise, and a can-do attitude on the part of the owner. Failures happen most often to owners who feel "I can't believe I'm expected to brush my pets teeth - what was my vet thinking!" Making a game out of it, treating it as a bonding time with your pet dramatically increases the success rate.

Start by offering a bit of flavored toothpaste to your pet, and make a big deal of it. I find the poultry flavored to be the most readily accepted. Keep on offering the toothpaste on a daily basis until the pet is excited to see you head for the cabiinet you store it in. This might take you a couple of weeks. Remember, praise your pet for any behavior that results in the pet liking the paste.

Next step is to get your pet to accept objects in their mouth. If possible, use toothpaste on your finger, if not a small toothbrush with toothpaste on it. You're not actually brushing yet, just putting your finger or brush on their gums. Do this daily, increasing the time in the mouth each day. If your pet balks, you've pushed it too far and you have to go back to safe ground. This may put you back to offering the toothpaste again.

Once the pet will allow something in its mouth for 10-15 seconds, it's time for brushing. You'll want to spend 15 seconds on the outside of each quadrant - the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left.

Keeping a pet out of periodontal disease can increase its lifespan by 10 years, so it is well worth the effort!

I know it happens, but the same school of thought applies with lots of other pet treat arguments. Some are all for rawhide, but the ones whose dogs have had intestinal problems due to such will never use one again. Some will use hooves or bones that have been microwaved on high heat some won't...I'm sure you've seen alot of arguments on both sides for several such issues. The school of thought preached by some fellow vet staff on a message board I frequent is that brushing a dog's teeth is great but in order for it to be effective you've got to do it twice a day (or more) every day, just like people should, and not many pet people are willing enough, have enough free-time or even remember to often enough to make the right difference.

Different strokes for different people and dogs, I guess...

Yes there is danger in bones - but lets face it there is danger in everything. I have heard you shouldn't let your dog run in a forest - they might get a stick in their eye, I have heard so many you should nots that it is amazing we let the dogs walk at all. My dog enjoys his bone everynight - I enjoy giving the dog pleassure.