Do You Brush Your Dog's Teeth?

[Cluemanti]

If they are having trouble with it try when they are exhausted. Either before or after a wake up or after a good play session. Reward/praise after.

[UConnGSD]

Wolfie is on the raw diet, so he gets RMBs everyday. But I do brush his teeth occasionally.

[Caledon]

I don't feed raw, but I have given Knuckle bones and I pay for it when it comes time to clean up after her. I bought them from a butcher and maybe they were not fresh.

She used to chew nyla bones, but is no longer interested. I don't buy those pre-packaged bones in the pet store because I'm worried about them splintering.

I brush her teeth, but not on a regular basis. He teeth are not looking so great.

[Rott-n-GSDs]

Nope, mine are raw fed. No brushing necessary here. I used to brush Luna's teeth before switching to raw, however.

[Melina]

Hmm, it seems like more people do not brush their dog's teeth. I know brushing can only help, hence why I do it, but I wonder if we did like a Forum comparison on everyone's dog's teeth, then talked about what we all do, if we could come up with some consensus for what is the best thing or combination of things to do to keep their teeth in good condition. I'm worrying about my dog's teeth being yellow/having plaque at such a young age, and while they do get bones and their teeth brushed, I wonder if there's not something more I can do? Switch to raw? That would be for more than just dental reasons, of course, but I've heard it makes a big difference in their teeth...

[Rott-n-GSDs]

I always support a switch to raw but if you don't want to go all the way... I've discovered that bone-in venison seems to be the best teeth cleaner. Giving them some venison every so often can help (note: if your dog has a sensitive tummy loose stool could result). When I adopted Nova, his teeth were really yellow and I noticed a huge difference after I gave him bone in venison (which was early on in his switch to raw because he wouldn't eat anything else).

[Chicagocanine]

I didn't vote because the answer is "sometimes". I do brush Bianca's teeth sometimes but not as regularly as I probably should be brushing them. She also gets raw bones pretty often and her teeth are pretty much free of plaque.

[EchoGSD]

I brush my dog's teeth about once a week. Probably should do the sheltie more than that, her teeth (at 2 years) are already showing considerable buildup. The GSD and the Rottie are not bad at all (GSD is the best: 4.5 years and no buildup at all). They all eat dry food and have chew toys and beef bones to gnaw on, but I still brush 'em. They tolerate it (like nail trimming) but certainly don't enjoy it.....

[Chicagocanine]

My vet told me to brush Bianca's teeth because her gums were a little inflamed.

[Wolfiesmom]

Wolfie has plenty of bones and I brush his teeth too. They are nice and white