almost lost my fingers today!!!
 

ok, call me a bad doggie owner but today was my first time brushing maggies teeth (she is 23 weeks old). I was looking for some "all natural" stuff to brush her teeth with and waited until i was comfy with something before i did it. well, I guess i should have started a long time ago, even if it was just using the brush to brush away any extra "stuff" that might be on her teeth...just to get her used to it. I have to say...for a 4 lb ball of fluff, she is STRONG!!! i was so scared i was going to hurt her trying to hold her to brush her teeth. holy MOLY she was so squirmy and just freaking out!!!!!!!! but we did it...got the teeth brushed. i didn't go all out with it and really brush them thouroughly, just kind rubbed the toothbrush on her teeth a little. it was really all i could do...i thought i was going to lose my fingers putting them in her mouth like that. we have 2 other dogs, a min pin and a cocker. the min pin weighing about 15 lbs or so (he's old and fat LOL) and a cocker weighing in at almost 30 lbs. and they were easy :) LOL they didn't like it..but they didn't almost take my fingers with them. Ms maggie on the other hand...she put up a good fight :)

They sure can fight you when they don't like something. I use one of those brushes that you put over your finger. It seems to help a good bit. However, I wish I could find some smaller size ones. I hope your baby gets used to the brushings after awhile. :)

Ouch! How about putting some of that toothpaste on the brush and holding it by her mouth and letting her gnaw on the bristles on her own? I did that with my two and they thought it was a 'treat' and now they're more cooperative when I actually brush:)

yeah, that might work if she actually liked the toothpaste. it is this stuff..

http://beyondbeds.com/index.asp?Page...=Custom&ID=111

none of the dogs like it :) but i have heard some good stuff about it. so i thought i would try it.

Oh, you're talking about the PetzLife. I use that also but it's pretty strong smelling (and I guess tasting) so I just put it on their lips and let them lick it off. I brush their teeth with the natural doggy toothpaste, I think it's liver flavored or something:)

i think my hubby has some of that. i'll ask where he put it. i think they like that a bit more :)

I am a horrible yorkie mom. I don't brush my yorkies teeth. I have tried but I literally cannot hold Bella down and get her mouth open.
Sadly, this has cost me though, as she now needs a dental cleaning and it will cost me hundreds:mad:

so many people have the same story to tell. i really want to try and start off on the right foot while she is young but it was very hard to do :) hubby was like "she is so young, why are you brushing her teeth". I simply want her to get used to it now. kinda like the grooming. better to start when they are young, IMO.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...toothpaste&N=2

This is what I use. It's from Petsmart. Daisy loves it so much all she has to do is see the tube and she comes running and licks the tube before I can even open it. When I am brushing her teeth she is so busy trying to lick the toothbrush to eat the toothpaste. I don't know how good this stuff is but you might want to try using something with a great taste to start out. This has a peppermint flavor and makes their breath smell great. I use the "blue" tube. The Vet at Petsmart recommended it.