Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My 2-year-old dog has plaque. Is it normal? What home dental care?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 1 year and 7 months old | 60 lbs

Is this normal for a 2 year old puppy? We brush her teeth pretty regularly and try to use a scraper. What more can we do at home to help this? Or is there something else we can do?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 22nd, 2018

Hello!

She has a very small amount of tartar accumulation right on her gum lines, which is perfectly amount of plaque to develop by her age. I think with some increase in dental home care, you can probably get all that plaque dissolved and back to pearly whites!

Excellent job with the teeth brushing! I would recommend trying to increase that to daily brushing and make sure that you are using a toothpaste with an enzymatic cleaner. The enzymatic part means that it still works after you stop brushing to break down the plaque and tartar. A small amount of this tooth paste put on chew toys can be a way for her to brush her own teeth as well. :)

There are also diets formulated for dogs that accumulate dental plaque quickly. Hills T/D is one that I know of off the top of my head, but there are likely other brands as well. The kibbles are made in larger pieces that crunch in a way that cleans that teeth while they eat.

Dental chews, like greenies, can be given daily as well for their dental benefits.

I hope this is helpful!
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My older dog's teeth look bad after cleaning. What at-home care works?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The gold standard for at home dental care is brushing teeth. However, we all know this is not easy for you or your pet!! If Lilly will let you do so, then yes, I recommend getting a silicone tooth brush (finger or long handle- whichever is easier) and brushing her teeth all the way from her back molars to her front incisors. I also recommend the dental chews called OraVet. They tend to work a little bit better reducing plaque and maintaining better smelling breath. You can likely find these dental chews at your local veterinary's office. With age and time, dog's teeth tend to build tartar more quickly. Therefore, I recommend brushing, dental chews and even particular dental food. Thanks for being so on top of Lilly's care! You are doing a great job!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What are the best products to remove plaque from my dog's teeth?

Hi and thanks for posting on PetCoach! There are a wide variety of products out there that help decrease plaque on teeth to some degree. Some products are better than others. However, the best product out there is actually a toothbrush! Brushing your dog's teeth daily (or as frequently as you can) will help decrease plaque build up on the teeth and help prevent dental disease. Be sure to use a dog friendly toothpaste you can get from your local pet shop. I have linked one I recommend below. Sometimes, however, the plaque hardens and becomes calcified on the tooth. When this happens, it is very hard to get rid of with brushing or commercial products like dental sprays or water additives, etc. A dental scaling done by Hiccup's veterinarian is the only way to get the dental calculus off the tooth. The sprays and commercial products along with daily or frequent brushing will help substantially at reducing plaque build up in the future.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is my dog's teeth plaque improving with daily brushing before a dental?

There is a bit of tartar but truly, it's not bad at all! I have seen so much worse. It looks like it's getting a bit better, but doing the dental is best. I hope this helps, keep up the awesome work!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

Can I remove my dog's tartar at home without a vet dental cleaning?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Joshie's tartar build up isn't that bad. I think the best thing for you to do if you do not want to anesthetize him to clean the teeth is to be as aggressive as possible to prevent further tartar build up. Some dogs will allow you to try and scrape the tartar off with your nail or the Vet with instruments. But honestly they have to be VERY good as no one wants to get bit. So I would focus on prevention. He should have his teeth brushed at a MINIMUM of 3 days a week. I would put him on Hill's t/d food and take a look at this link from the Veterinary Oral Health Council on accepted products: http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html I would try to buy a dog tooth paste but the paste you are making should be fine. I hope this helps and I wish you and Joshie the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has bleeding gums and plaque. How can I help her at home?

Bleeding gums can be an indication of periodontal disease. Ideally, Tahoe should be physically examined by your veterinarian. She may need a dental cleaning. You can brush daily using a pet approved toothpaste and toothbrush. This will slow the progression of any existing periodontal disease and accumulation of plaque. Brushing will not remove plaque, especially if it is under the gum line.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has brown, stained teeth. What dental care options are there?

Silly girl, toothpaste isn't a treat! It can be very difficult to train a dog to allow their teeth to be brushed. I would venture to guess that the majority of vets don't brush their pet's teeth, either! The brown staining is plaque and tartar. Once the plaque sets in, there is no amount of brushing that will remove it. The only way to remove the plaque and thoroughly clean the teeth is to take Keltie in for a dental cleaning. This can be a scary idea since she will need to be under general anesthesia, but it can help her avoid many preventable diseases in the future, such as abscessed teeth, infection of the jaw bones, and shedding bacteria in the bloodstream that could cause infection of the heart valves. Here is a great article on dental care in pets. Once the plaque is removed after a dental cleaning, you can work on training Keltie to accept teeth brushing, or you can use products approved by the VOHC to delay additional plaque from forming. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=128

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What are the best dental treats to help remove plaque from my dog?

Greenies can help remove some fresh plaque. However if your dog already has a moderate to high amount of plaque on his teeth, then he will need a dental cleaning under sedation. Once the teeth are cleaned you can keep plaque from attaching to the teeth by brushing regularly. This is more effective than any dental chews.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share