Teeth brushing issues? Help?

304 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Peaches’Cream, 16 d ago

Foxy the Maltese

Discussion Starter · 20 d ago

Hello everyone. I have a big problem with needing and wanting to groom my dogs teeth. I had bought doggy toothpaste and a small EXTRA soft (and they are) bristle tooth brushes for my girl Foxy. We got foxy when she was 7. She was not very friendly when we got her. She was scared and confused. She would growl loudly at anyone that tried to pet her, sit within 4 feet of her, and if anyone were to put her and our one dog Sammy near eachother, she would attack him. She wouldnt hurt him, but mainley bully and scare him.

7 years later, i am proud to say she loves car rides, hugs, cuddles, all other dogs that are respectful, being brushed. But she still has one BIG ick and it is brushing her teeth. Foxy is not tolerent of it at all. I have tried SO SO many different training techniques. Giving her a treat every time she let me lift her gums, which worked, and now i can lift her gums whenever. I did simalar things with the tooth brush as ell.

But the minute i try to put the tooth brush on her teeth or gums, she jerks away. If you cuddle with her and reassure her, she calm down. But the minute you bring her gums up with the tooth brush, she freaks out and growls. I have had her snap and even break skin.

I understand this is a very obvious trigger for her, but the vet and everyone around me all agrees she could really benifit from having her teeth brush. I have tried so many approaches on this but it seems to no avail, work. Is this something i should just give up on? She is old, she has cancer

and probably won't live another 1-2 years 😭 so should i give up on it?

Thanks everyone!

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mss

· #2 · 18 d ago

You could try rubbing some dog toothpaste on her teeth with your fingertip. If that works for a while, you could progress to applying the toothpaste with a small piece of gauze. You could try a finger brush, but that might be too big.

A vet with a dental practice recommended some water additives for my senior dog who had chronically bad teeth and lymphoma. It sounded good, but I never got around to using it. I had multiple dogs drinking from the same multiple bowls in a hot climate, so it could have been unnecessary for them all, and maybe expensive. Something to look into, though!

You might ask your vet if your dog is currently showing signs of dental disease, and if so, what to do. I am not sure what the options would be. Maybe antibiotics to prevent worsening infection? Or "professional" brushing under sedation?

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maggieh

· #3 · 18 d ago

For my girls, I used a fingertip "brush" which they weren't enamored with but tolerate fine. I've also used the sponge "brushes" like hospitals use but the fingertips were more cost-effective.

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mss

· #4 · 18 d ago

I didn't know about the sponge brushes! Thanks for the additional idea! 👍

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Peaches’Cream

· #5 · 16 d ago

Foxy the Maltese said:
Hello everyone. I have a big problem with needing and wanting to groom my dogs teeth. I had bought doggy toothpaste and a small EXTRA soft (and they are) bristle tooth brushes for my girl Foxy. We got foxy when she was 7. She was not very friendly when we got her. She was scared and confused. She would growl loudly at anyone that tried to pet her, sit within 4 feet of her, and if anyone were to put her and our one dog Sammy near eachother, she would attack him. She wouldnt hurt him, but mainley bully and scare him.

7 years later, i am proud to say she loves car rides, hugs, cuddles, all other dogs that are respectful, being brushed. But she still has one BIG ick and it is brushing her teeth. Foxy is not tolerent of it at all. I have tried SO SO many different training techniques. Giving her a treat every time she let me lift her gums, which worked, and now i can lift her gums whenever. I did simalar things with the tooth brush as ell.

But the minute i try to put the tooth brush on her teeth or gums, she jerks away. If you cuddle with her and reassure her, she calm down. But the minute you bring her gums up with the tooth brush, she freaks out and growls. I have had her snap and even break skin.

I understand this is a very obvious trigger for her, but the vet and everyone around me all agrees she could really benifit from having her teeth brush. I have tried so many approaches on this but it seems to no avail, work. Is this something i should just give up on? She is old, she has cancer and probably won't live another 1-2 years 😭 so should i give up on it?

Thanks everyone!

Well given her age this may never be a truly successful or pleasant experience for either of you. I use to use a spray dental treatment that worked pretty good for my Yorkie. Still might be tenuous at first but it is quick and painless once it’s sprayed in their mouths. Good luck and I hope you find a method that works eventually.

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