My puppy has teeth calculus. What products can I use to help?

Great question! I really like the CET brand of dental pet products. I would get Voodoo a pet toothbrush and toothpaste, and brush her teeth daily. You can also get her Dentasticks as a daily treat.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I am a fan of the Virbac C.E.T. line of dental products. They have toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental treats for dogs. If you need a place to start, you can check out Youtube for many videos that give step by step instructions on how to introduce Korbyn to teeth brushing in a positive manner! I hope this helps! Good luck!

The amount of tartar is relatively minimal. It likely doesn't require a veterinary visit at this time. If he will allow brushing, use a pet approved toothbrush and toothpaste daily. This will slow the progression. In my own experience (unrelated to Petco or Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach), water additives do very little to prevent tartar buildup.

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.

Brushing teeth has been shown to be much more beneficial than any water additive, supplement, or chew. I would focus on training Korbyn to like having his teeth brushed and get in a habit of daily brushing now! If he starts to develop significant periodontal disease and you want to start a supplement or water additive I would recommend using a product with the Veterinary Oral Health Council stamp of approval (http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf).

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.

I would try to find a dog finger brush or a small tooth brush and you will want to use dog tooth paste as it doesn't have fluoride, no foaming and not mint flavored so it makes it more favorable to the dog. You can slow start by just do a small section and work your way around the whole mouth over a matter of a few days. It is best to try and brush their teeth at least every other day to may a difference. Also remember that their large chewing teeth are further in the back past where their lips end. I would not try to open the mouth to get the inside of the teeth as most dogs don't appreciate that. If he doesn't like it or resists you, then it may be best just to give him dental chews like C.E.T chews and start using a water additive for dental health. Also, if the teeth already have a lot of tartar build up, he will likely need a dental cleaning from your vet. I hope this helps!