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I start out by putting good-tasting doggy toothpaste (chicken flavor) on my finger and letting them lick it while they are sitting on my lap. I progress to slipping my toothpaste-covered finger inside their cheek; then to rubbing it along the "Ummmmmm Yum! Chicken Flavor! Yummmie!..." Once they are O.K. with sitting on my lap and letting me rub my toothpaste-covered finger along their teeth, it is a small step to taking a regular (people) toothbrush, wetting it, and doing the same thing with the good-tasting toothpaste and the brush. The doggie dentist at my veterinarian said that it is most important to get the OUTSIDES of the teeth, so that's all I do. On a daily basis, I do both sides, and I do the front ones on a couple of my guys who are having a bit of a problem with the front teeth, too. (They're not as happy with that.) All the while, I croon to them and tell them what wonderful doggies they are and how lucky they are to have such yummy doggie toothpaste put in their mouths. They even fight to be the first to be put on my lap! Article copyright © 2001 by Betsy Polgase. |