They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, first off, less of the old, thank you, and secondly, let me tell you that this pooch is definitely up for some new tricks!

Yeah, yeah. I have regular check-ups with my friendly veterinary dentist and he’s pretty good at taking care of my oral health, but I’ve gotta tell you that some of my canine friends, well, they just don’t get it. They don’t understand that having healthy gums and teeth is really necessary to avoid poor dental hygiene, serious dental disease, and not to mention swollen and sore gums, as well as tooth loss.

Like humans, dogs acquire tartar and plaque on their teeth and we need to eradicate it as soon as it starts to build up. So, trick number one this year is to show my owners that I’m not totally against the idea of maintaining my teeth properly, along with a few dental treats on the side, of course!

The way I see it, I’ve got two choices:

Toothbrush & homemade organic toothpaste

I can’t say that the prospect of having a toothbrush stuck in my mouth seems very appealing. However, as it’s one of my New Year’s resolutions, let’s chat about it so we can all enjoy a more pleasurable experience.

A fingertip massage around my lips, teeth and gums is in order to make me feel more relaxed. Then I’ll feel better about things before coming face to face with the toothbrush which, by the way, should be a small pet one with soft bristles, specially designed for dogs and definitely not for felines! After that, it goes without saying that I shall expect a reward… humans call this training.

Next comes the tough part. You can try putting a pea-sized amount of dog toothpaste on one of your fingers and give me another treat… (more training) to acclimatise me to what’s coming next. Or go straight for the toothbrush with the toothpaste and clean the outside of my teeth and gum line in quick circular motions.

Whatever you have decided, I’m going to want some positive encouragement, such as a pat on the head or lots of praise during this whole 60 seconds of inconvenience. Yeah, that’s despite what I said earlier about dental care being in my own interests.

My toothpaste by the way should contain some nutritious broth (made by simmering bones, meat, fish or vegetables) and baking soda, along with coconut oil which is anti-bacterial and helps clean the mouth by getting into crevices.

Pearly Whites – Liquid

Some dogs are not going to allow you to brush their teeth no matter what you do (I could be the exception), but there are fortunately some great alternatives.

Pearly Whites is a 100% natural herbal blend that works to reduce the acid in my saliva (acid encourages the formation of plaque). It contains Fucus Seaweed, a brown alga that can assist in reducing this sticky deposit and reduces any bad breath… careful! Another botanical ingredient in the liquid helps prevent tartar and tooth decay, too.

Some of my doggy pals might prefer this quick drop of liquid from a pipette into their mouths. It is administered after each feed and they will most probably receive a treat too!

The point I’m making here is that dogs need to protect their teeth against decay one way or another. What’s more, our bark is worse than our bite, so if you’re a dog owner let’s take their oral hygiene seriously on a daily or weekly basis!

Please note: If you are not sure about your dog’s oral hygiene, see your veterinarian.

For more information on Pearly Whites Liquid:

https://www.houndandhowl.com/supplements-/225-162-calm-.html#/45-size-100_ml