80% of dogs have periodontal disease by age 3. It causes pain, tooth loss, and has been linked to heart and kidney disease. Prevention is simple and dramatically cheaper than treatment (professional cleaning under anesthesia: $300-$800+).
How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth
- Week 1: Touch lips and teeth with finger only, paired with treats
- Week 2: Apply dog toothpaste (never human — xylitol is toxic) to finger, rub on teeth
- Week 3: Introduce finger brush, brief contact with rewards
- Week 4: Graduated to regular toothbrush, increase coverage
Dental Products That Work
- Enzymatic dog toothpaste + brush (best option)
- VOHC-approved dental chews (Greenies, CET chews)
- Water additives (supplemental benefit)
- Dental diet kibble (Hill's T/D has VOHC seal)
Avoid Hard items that crack teeth: cooked bones, antlers, hard nylon toys, ice cubes. Rule: if you can't dent it with your thumbnail, it's too hard.