How To Clean Your Pets Teeth At Home

At Home Pet Dental Care Tips from our Virginia Beach Veterinarian

Bird Neck Veterinary dental examinationBeing vigilant about your pet's dental care is important not only for the longevity of your pet's teeth, but his overall health as well. Proper oral care prevents gum infections, plaque build-up, tooth loss, heart, lung, and kidney disease -- not to mention bad breath!

Our Virginia Beach veterinarian staff has put together these tips to ensure your pet's teeth remain problem-free.

At Home Care

Although it's important for you to bring your pet into our veterinary clinic for a oral examination and professional teeth cleaning, it's also critical for you to maintain a proper teeth cleaning schedule for your pet at home. Our animal hospital technicians will be happy to demonstrate the proper pet at home cleaning method, but you should also follow these recommendations:

  • Do not use a human toothbrush. The bristles are too hard for a pet and can cause gum damage. Brush your pet's teeth once per daily, if possible.
  • Make cleaning your pet's teeth a daily routine.  At the same time and same place each day have your pet sit, then rub around his/her outside of the mouth.  Give praise and a treat.  Repeat this daily until your pet is coming to that spot and waiting for his/her special treat at that time each day.  Then start rubbing on the teeth and gums.  Each day do a little more.  Then start using a soft cloth or gauze pad to wipe the teeth,  Then start putting some pet toothpaste on the gauze pad.  Finally you can graduate up to using a pet tooth brush with tooth paste.  This step by step training technique increases the likelihood that you will be able to do an effective job of cleaning the teeth.  Certain diets (such as Hill's Healthy Advantage) also help clean the pet's teeth as they chew their food.
  • Don't replace at home oral care completely for a full professional veterinarian cleaning.
  • Do provide treats designed to clean pet's teeth in between brushing.

Virginia Beach Pet Dental Care

The veterinarians at our animal clinic are focused on keeping your pet's mouth clean and healthy by performing routine oral examinations, regular cleaning, and providing fluoride treatments and medications to prevent future teeth, gum, and overall health problems. Diagnostic tools, such as X-rays, will be used to identify any tooth-related problems. If an infected tooth is  discovered, our vet will schedule surgery for its extraction. With proper professional and at home care attention, you can dramatically improve the health of your pet's teeth and general health.

What tricks and tips do you follow to get your pet to co-operate with at home cleanings? 




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Feedback from our clients

  • "Words can not begin to express our gratitude for the care you had given Hunter over the years. When his time came, he watched for you to come through the door and his tail showed his affection towards you. That was most comforting having you there. Thank you.""
    ~R.H
  • ""Thank you so much for taking care of Maggie over the years. Y'all are the best and Dr. Johnson, you are the best vet in the world! God bless you all.""
    ~ J.D.
  • ""Your care for my beloved Mattie these last 10n years made her life, and mine much better….God bless each of you for all you did for us and I'm sure for all your other two and four legged patients.""
    ~E.D.
  • ""Thank you for saving my life." ~T.C."
    ~T.C.
  • ""I can not express how grateful I am for you and your staff… I appreciate everything you did in Beckham's treatment. He was so lucky to have such a wonderful doctor on his side. Thank you for all you do for the benefit of all our beloved pets.""
    ~L.B.
  • ""Dr. Johnson - There are no words that can truly capture your kindness.""
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  • ""Thank you for the great care you took of Taco and the rest of our family. He is doing great now! He is enjoying running and playing with all four legs again.""
    ~W.C
  • ""People who avail themselves of your services at the clinic certainly are blessed to have such a caring staff....bless you and your devoted staff.""
    ~E.D.
  • ""A sincere thank you for taking such good care of Dulce. We are so thrilled that she is back to her normal self. You gave her the support and care she needed in her darkest hours and kept us confident in her recovery.""
  • ""Just to say how much we appreciate all of you. You all are wonderful people. We feel blessed to have our beloved furry children in your care when they need it. Your professional knowledge and your acts of kindness have a beautiful act all it's own. You are a great vet, compassionate and everything good all in one. You are in our daily prayers.""
    ~T.F.
  • ""Thank you and all of your staff for the excellent care you gave to my wonderful Abbey, who was so much a part of the family. Thank you for all the advice and support you gave to me these last few months. I don't know how I would have gotten through this without your constant support. I will, and I have highly recommended you to family and friends, as I feel you are the best!""
    ~P.B.
  • ""Thank you for taking care of my kitty, Slingshot. He is feeling better and better. My Paw-Paw said that you took extra special care of him and I really appreciate it. So, thank you again for taking care of my cat.""
    ~T.B. (age 6)
  • ""Dr. Johnson, I don't know why you decided to move here from your home in New Jersey, but I absolutely believe it was so you could help me and Mickey. I know coming to someone's home is not what a typical veterinarian would do, but you are obviously an extraordinary man in a world filled with ordinary men….On top of that, your sensitive and wonderful handwritten note arrived and touched my heart…You are one of those quiet, unheralded champions who make life easier for everyone you touch.""
    ~C.W.
  • ""Thank you so much for taking care of Lola when she had her reaction, and your office was already closed. I know you took time away from yourself and your family and I really appreciate it.""
    ~R.M.
  • ""Thank you for giving me more time with my best friend. We are all so grateful.""
    ~A.M.
  • ""Thank you for all of your support for Maxine during her illness. All was very much appreciated and will always be remembered. I have related to all my friends of what a great doctor and staff at Birdneck Animal Hospital.""
    ~O.B.
  • ""Thank you for taking such good care of me over the last 4 years. I am doing well and both legs and feet feel great. You sis an awesome job on me Dr. Johnson, and I'm gonna have a great year this year and I hope to see you only for my check up. You guys are the best!""
    ~Budkus
  • "We can't thank you enough for the wonderful and loving care you gave to"Budkus" while he was in your care. He was so little and so sick and we were so scared for him. Each and every one of the staff members made us feel like we had the only dog in the world. Like nothing else mattered except getting "Budkus" well again. Our deepest gratitude to all of you for the excellent care and attention we received, for your encouragement, comfort, and understanding, and most importantly for saving his life! Thank you so much.""
    ~ J.,B.,C.