How to safely clean my dog's toothbrush and food bowl, and how often?

If you have a dishwasher, I recommend running it through that. It will get the grime and dirt off. Otherwise, you can soak it in hot water and dishwashing soap, then use a brush to scrub off all the grime and dirt.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend daily teeth brushing with dog toothpaste daily. Groomers only brush a dogs teeth when they are groomed- likely every 6-8 weeks. That would be like us brushing our teeth once every 6-8 weeks. It’s not a bad idea but it’s not going to do a whole lot in the long run. I also recommend a professional teeth cleaning by a veterinarian every year- to remove plaque, polish after (very important after plaque removal), and to check for problems/bad teeth before they cause other problems. Rawhides are not bad but they will not take the place of daily dental care. Also, they can cause intestinal upset so I do not recommend them frequently. They also have a lot of calories so you have to make sure Scooby doesn’t gain weight when feeding them. Kisses to Scooby!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Winston. The teeth should be brushed daily if possible. However, this can be difficult to achieve. If 2-3 times per week is more feasible for you, it is still helpful. You will need a tooth paste for animals as the human forms have too much fluoride. Pick a flavor that he would like (chicken, beef, etc). You can look for products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Concil (VOHC). I hope this information helps!

Home dental care is one of the best ways to help keep your dog's teeth and gums healthy. I would wet the toothbrush (you can get it at a pet store). You can also use a children's toothbrush. I would then use Pet approved toothpaste. There are wide varieties of flavors. Never use human toothpaste, baking soda or salt. While safe for you, these cleaning agents can be harmful to your dog if swallowed. Lift your dog's lip and brush with a gentle motion to clean his teeth. Just like you would your own teeth. Most pets will not allow you to brush the inside surface of their teeth, so typically you can just brush the outside portion of their teeth. Make sure you reward your dog after! Ideally, this process should be done daily. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You can start brushing your dogs teeth at any time. I recommend purchasing dog toothpaste from a pet store and you can also get a regular toothbrush for your dog or one that fits over your finger. There is no need to rinse their mouth when using dog toothpaste and it is safe if they swallow it. The best thing to do is to brush Bruno's teeth every day or as often as you are able to. Dental hygiene is just as important in animals as it is in humans.

Daily brushing with a pet approved tooth paste and toothbrush and dental chews are more effective than a water additive. When looking at dental products, search for the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval. Use the chart at the link below to find acceptable dental chews. http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html

Ideally you want to brush your dogs teeth once a day. But if you can brush 2 to 3 times a week then that would be great to reduce tartar and gingivitis from developing. Best wishes with Jackie and maintaining her good oral hygiene. : )