How often do you brush your dog's teeth?

Is ready:

http://www.omalmalamutes.com/omal/photos/K-brusheveryday.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF97Akx3Siw

OK, I think that lady may be a a little crazy but OMG at Sophie. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! <3 her. Is she wearing . . . PJs?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/1565773169_e851eb28c6.jpg

I'm only just now really working on training him to cooperate with tooth-brushing -- tried when he was young, never really managed it. I don't know that it's anything to feel insanely guilty over, but getting it done is probably better than paying for professional cleanings and putting your dog through vets and anesthetics and all that.

i think everyone probably talks to their dog all crazy, but most people are smart enough not to put it on youtube.

also, just give your dog a Milkbone, it works like a toothbrush

I dunno, I think no matter how many effective chewy things you give them, there'll eventually come a point where you could benefit from brushing off a little buildup. I don't think it's a huge deal, though: plenty of dogs go through 15+ years of life with no brushings and no problems, so it seems more like a slim-chance preventative thing.

I mean, as opposed to humans, where ignoring teeth = definitely absolutely losing them.

dunno about 15 years of not brushing;
my 16 y.o. cocker spaniel (RIP mister man) had terrible teeth and i wish i had brushed them more. it would have saved me hundreds (perhaps thousands) of dollars in anaesthesia and cleanings. note: i adopted this dog when he was 5 and i was 22, so give me some minor leeway for being not 100% at fault for his terrible teeth.

he might even still be alive ;_;

Once a year, but she gets dental treats.

Once a year at the vet, I should clarify.

Yeah, the thing that has motivated me to restart the tooth-care training is the anesthetic for professional cleanings -- not only sucky for the dog but a bit dangerous, too

Thus far I have met with nothing but the usual "omg, what is your problem, dude, stop poking your fingers at my mouth" response

I think (my wife takes her usually) the vet just does it with a scraper/brush. No anesthetic involved.

people do this?

No, Ashton Kutcher made us have this thread just to punk you

BUUUUUUURRRRRRRNNNN

"people do this?"

Sure. Dogs get plaque and bleeding gums same as we do.

So why do we brush dogs teeth and not cats? Honest question.

Fuck cats

Well, thats not what I would have done but whatever floats your boat Whiney :|

You ever TRIED to brush a cats' teeth? Our dog is difficult about it, but he doesn't claw us to shreds. The cat would.

Hahah I would never even dare wash my cat! And I know some people who do? I never understood why - they seem perfectly capable of keeping themselves clean.

Yeah--the cat even tries to keep the dog clean, to be honest (buries his crap in the garden, that sort of thing).

Vets are crazy for this tooth hygiene thing. Ours talked us into a cleaning for our late boy Puck, and we regretted it. He was traumatized by the whole thing, out of sorts for days. That total anesthesia's no joke. I say let the teeth fall out, fuckit. You can give them soft food. By the time they're that old, so many other things are on the blink, the teeth may as well jump on the bandwagon.

Dog in question, btw:

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss71/fabrickd/BaxteronBooks.jpg?t=1246430563

I totally fell for a "free dog photo" promotion. Please note the glasses in the lower left hand corner suggesting he's taking a break from reading Wuthering Heights to chew on the back screen door.

I mean right hand corner...

:)

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Vets are crazy for this tooth hygiene thing.

When I was a kid our vet tried to tell us that one of our dogs needed BRACES

lol

Nabisco, you lie!

http://bp3.blogger.com/_qAi_fnGML0U/R_D9xkA7eSI/AAAAAAAABxU/63c-Bg94GIs/s1600-h/dog+smile.jpg

what kind of inhuman monster could bring its dog in for brace adjustments?

My laziness has been vindicated. Thanks ILX!

My roommate has a jar of dog toothbrushes and dog toothpaste that she never/seldom uses on her dog, but it sits on our sink taking up the same amount of space as the toothbrushes etc of all the humans. Do you think she'd notice if I threw it out the window one day when she wasn't there?

100% true about dog braces! NB this dog lived to age 16 with no teeth problems whatsoever. Went mostly blind and deaf but chomped kibble A-OK until the end.

RIP Beru