Are you a dog owner?

Do you ever brush your dogs teeth?

Here are some tips to remember when you want to start doing this!

##TIP 1

One very VERY important thing to remember is to NEVER brush your dogs teeth with HUMAN toothpaste. MOST human toothpastes contain something called Xylitol. This is extremely toxic to dogs.This is a sugar substitute and can cause low blood sugar levels as well as liver problems.The effects can show as quickly as 10 minutes – BUT saying this it can also take a few days to take effect as well. Please watch this if your dog ever gets hold of toothpaste. It is a safer bet to take your dog to the vet immediately.

##TIP 2

Then, it is important to also note that you need to get your dog warmed up to the idea of brushing their teeth. You can do several things, like praise them every time you put some DOG toothpaste in their mouth, let them smell the toothbrush and every time you successfully brush their teeth also give them a treat or praise them. If your dog shows signs of wanting to bite you, please refrain from carrying on and maybe seek help from your local vet.

##TIP 3

If you are not brushing your dogs teeth daily you are doing it wrong. Just like humans plaque builds up within 24 of previously brushing your teeth. If you don’t brush their teeth daily it won’t be as effective.

##TIP 4

If you are regularly brushing your dogs teeth then you can also keep track of their dental health at the same time! If your dog starts to drool excessively, has swollen gums, bleeding gums, bad breath, any growths forming, if your dog paws at their mouth or if a yellow-brown tartar form please don’t ignore these – its important to contact your vet to fix the problem immediately.

##TIP 5

Lastly, its important to know that you can also get your dogs teeth cleaned professionally. Sometimes you can’t always remove all the tartar build up yourself. This is where your vet will be your best friend to your best friend!