Any tips on Brushing Teeth?
 

So I have been faithfully brushing Gucci's teeth since he was a baby ... I got him when he was just 9 weeks, he is now 9 months... and he is NOT having it. He was OKAY with it up until around 2 months ago when he got Kennel Cough. I let him have his way and didn't mess with him too much during the 2 weeks he was really sick because I felt so bad for him and didn't want him to go through more than he had to :( (my mistake!).

Anyhow, he started to get really ansy after he got better and EXPECTED me to let him have his way ... Yorkies are obviously very smart like this and catch on quite quickly :rolleyes:. After a couple of weeks he started to get in the hang again but then he got really sick again (vet thinks poisening of some sort but we cannot be sure) and I AGAIN let him have his way. EVER SINCE THEN HE'S BEEN JUST TERRIBLE!! the hair we can get through, even though he's a total brat about it. The teeth however, he just goes ballistic and I don't know what to do. Every night it's a fight and he's panting like there's no tomorrow from both anxiety and the battle and he is just completely worked up and nippy even :eek:. He does get corrected and has NEVER EVER Bitten me but he's jumpy, whips his head around, and kind of nips but not at me.. at the toothbrush... Like GO AWAY!

Now really it is such an episode that I can't help but laugh at him towards the end. I just don't know what to do, how do I get this back to normal?

Any Suggestions?

Start Again Slowly
 

You can try your finger with Petrodex Chicken Flavored paste. Then progress to the finger brush and eventually toothbrush. Our guys never tolerated mint or vanilla flavors; they want meat flavor! We used PetzLife in the past for a long time, but it didn't work any better than Petrodex. The spray was very convenient, and does come in Salmon Flavor. I have also used DentAcetic Wipes. We moved up to the Colgate battery-powered brush. The head is slim. After a day of introduction, they got used to it right away. What a fabulous job of cleaning it does! If you're worried about the anxiety, did you ever try Rescue Remedy drops about 30 minutes beforehand. Works wonders for our "Nervous Ned" before nail grinding.

I just wanted to point out that Petzlife is not a toothpaste, it's a topical spray or gel, that sits on the teeth for 30 minutes, and is said to soften tartar, so that you can brush it away at a later time. Also, the manufacture suggests the salmon flavor for cats, although you can use it for dogs, they don't seem to like the flavor at all. I've been wanting to use an electric tooth brush, and I'm glad you had success with that.

I use Petzlife, as well as the Petrodex, and so far so good. I recently started used the fingertip brushes and it gives me greater control. Some people suggest teasing with the toothbrush and making a game out of it. I found as long as there is toothpaste on the brush, Joeys pretty good at allowing me to brush.

I just bought a couple Colgate mini brushes, and I think they are the perfect size for small dogs!

I wish Gucci was soooo cooperative! he won't let me touch his teeth with that brush. It's like a fight for his life lol. I haven't gotten it done to my satisfactory for a few weeks now. Maybe 1X out of 5 it's a decent brushing :(. I tried the teasing the other night and that didn't quite work either ... but maybe if I keep trying it he will catch on.

Quicksilver - do you get the mini brushes at the grocery store? Maybe I can try that? My vet suggested baby toothbrushes so that is what I use right now.. maybe a finger brush too.. :confused:

He hates the Pedi-Paw and the trimmer so I don't think anything battery operated will work. Right now the toothpaste he loves, he will totally eat that if I let him lol It's the brush that he hates :(. The rescue remedy sounds like a good idea.. I think I'll try that for the anxiety.

I'm having a tough time with Jackson too. :( He's a good boy most of the time with hair brushing, etc but when it comes to touching his mouth... uh uh, not happening!

Thanks for that, I was just about to ask what to use for a small mouth that is only 9wks.:thumbup:

Remember at this age, you are just trying to make them like the experience. Always use dog toothpaste; human toothpaste has artificial sweeteners that can make your dog sick. Your puppy will lose his puppy teeth around 6-12 months, but you just want him to get use to the tooth brushing activity. Make it fun and give them a treat afterwards. If you wait until they have their adult teeth, they probably will put up a very big fight.