Dog Tooth Brushing Tips

Like people, dogs also need to have their teeth cleaned. Canine teeth need regular brushing to prevent cavity build-up and tooth decay. More importantly, taking care of your dog’s teeth is a great way to protect your dog from diseases or infections that may start from the build-up of bacteria in the mouth.

Brushing your dog’s teeth does not need to be an unpleasant experience. Here are tips on how to make brushing time easy and enjoyable.

Use a toothpaste for dogs. Ask your vet for a recommended brand of doggy toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste as some ingredients may be too strong for dogs and unsafe to swallow. Also, dog's would never like the mint flavor of toothpastes people use.

Introduce the new taste. Put a small amount of the doggy toothpaste on your finger and let your dog get accustomed to the taste of this new treat. Do this for a few days. You may need to experiment on different flavours of toothpastes for dogs until find out the flavor your pooch likes best. Remember, it’s important that your dog enjoys the taste of the toothpaste to make brushing time fun and easy.

Introduce the brush. Once your dog is used to the taste, you can now introduce the toothbrush. Use a toothbrush for dogs as it is uniquely designed for canine teeth.  Put a bit of toothpaste on the brush and let your dog investigate it first until he get’s used to it.

Check your dog's mouth. Run your fingers along the gums and check for sores or swelling. In case of swollen gums, take him to the vet right away.

Use a toothbrush for dogs. After the introduction, use the doggy toothbrush to gently clean his teeth and mouth. Doggie toothbrushes have extra-soft bristles and long handles which are perfect for cleaning canine teeth. At first, just brush the front teeth or the ones within easy reach. Make the brushing session short as you don’t want him to get upset.

Time to brush. As your dog gets used to the activity, you can start spending a few extra minutes brushing the teeth to make sure that his mouth gets thoroughly cleaned. Make sure that the toothpaste sticks between the bristles of the brush to keep the paste from falling off. Gently brush one tooth at a time, brush the gums until all parts of the mouth has been brushed.

Make tooth brushing a routine so your dog would get used to the habit. Regular brushing should be done at least once a week. It’s best to brush your dog’s teeth when he/she feels a bit sleepy or tired.

Dental chews and treats should not replace regular brushing. Dental kibble or chews may help prevent cavity build-up but brushing is still the best way to clean the bacteria in the mouth.

Don't skip brushing. If you don’t have time to brush your dog’s teeth, have someone else do the job. If no one in the house can do this important task, better take him to a pet groomer.

Make tooth brushing time a bonding time. While brushing your dog’s teeth, talk to him in a calm voice and give lots of praises if he’s behaved well.


Reward him with his favorite treat. Rewarding your dog after brushing will make him remember that brushing time isn't a bad time after all.

Check out Best Bully Sticks to view a wide range of all-natural dog products such as dental dog treats and chews, toothpaste and toothbrush for dogs, dog food, and more.

Help Your Pet Recover from Obesity

Among humans, the problem of obesity is very real. Among pets, obesity is a problem often overlooked. Based on the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention’s (APOP) 2008 Pet Obesity Study, “an estimated 50% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese.”

Apparently, the prevalence of preventable diseases in pets such as Osteoarthritis, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease, respiratory disorders, and some forms of cancer is directly related to the increase of obesity cases in both dogs and cats.

Causes of Pet Obesity

It is interesting to note that pet owners who lead an inactive lifestyle are most likely to have overweight pets as well. The lack of physical activity can be unhealthy and even dangerous for humans and pets alike.

Having a dog can be physically beneficial if the dog owner actually walks his/her pooch regularly. If you’re too lazy or too busy to go out and walk your dog or run with your dog, either you, your dog or both of you may be at risk of having a weight problem.

Another cause of obesity among pets is an unhealthy feeding routine. Pets have a tendency to overeat and pet owners have a tendency to overfeed. Some pet owners feed their dogs or cats with too much food than their caloric need or body requirement. Just like in humans, the average daily caloric need of a dog or cat will vary depending on its size, age, and breed.

Is My Pet Overweight or Obese?

So how can you tell if your pet is overweight? APOP recommends the 1-5 scale Body Condition Scoring (BCS). The BCS is a recognized system used by veterinarians to determine whether there is a weight problem.

1 is considered to be an emaciated condition; 2 is thin; 3 is the ideal or normal; 4 is heavy or overweight; and 5 is extremely fat or obese. Check here for the complete details of BCS.

If your dog or cat has a sagging tummy, a broad back, has no waist and you can’t feel the ribs under the fat, your pet may have a weight problem. Dogs and cats that are overweight may experience difficulty in breathing or walking, are easily tired, and are often sluggish or sleepy.

Remember, the ideal weight range for dogs and cats differ depending on the size and breed. Take your dog to a certified veterinarian to diagnose and address the problem.

Helping an Overweight or Obese Pet

Here are some tips to help your dog or cat recover from obesity:

Don’t fall for the sad face. The hardest part about controlling a pet’s unhealthy eating habit is saying no when they try to ask or beg for food. But if your pet is overweight, the best way you can show your care is to help him/her regain the ideal body weight.


Introduce exercise or physical activity one step at a time. Never introduce your pet to a rigorous exercise program as this can be fatal to health. It’s best to ask advice from a vet as to what kind of exercise routine you should start with. At first, it should be short sessions doing a mild form of exercise and will slowly progress depending on your pet’s response.

Ask your vet for a healthy diet plan. Again, you cannot drastically change your pet’s feeding habits. Always work with a veterinary or pet nutritionist when introducing a new diet for your dog.

Don’t feed your dog under the table. Dogs must never be fed while the family is eating on the dining table. Teach your kids not to throw or feed bits of food to your dog under the table. Dogs should be trained to eat at their own feeding time. If you feed them at any time of day, they will be confused and they will have a more difficult time adjusting.

Be patient. Don’t expect your pet to reach the ideal body weight quickly. It needs time, patience, discipline and motivation. The important thing is to work closely with your vet and follow the health plan specifically created for your pet.

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Meet the Portuguese Water Dog

Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog has officially arrived at the White House. After some controversies as to the 6-month old PWD’s origin, the Obama’s welcomed the first pooch to his new home last April 14. Apparently, Bo was a gift from Ted Kennedy (who also has 2 PWDs from Bo’s breeder) after Bo’s first owners gave him up. I’m not very familiar with this breed so I came up with this research:

Portuguese Water Dog History

Aptly named the Portuguese Water Dog, this canine breed was originally a fisherman’s dog in Portugal. Known for its strength and exceptional swimming ability (the PWD can swim all day), it was the perfect fisherman companion (to retrieve fishing nets, carry messages from the boat to shore, guard boats, and dove for fish).

Appearance: The PWD is a medium built dog. The size and height proportions range from 20-23 inches, 42 to 60 pounds for males; and 17 to 21 inches and 35 to 50 pounds for females. The body is solid, muscular and well-balanced.

PWDs have wavy or curly coat in black, brown or white (or combinations of these colors). Despite its thick coat which requires regular grooming, the Portuguese Water Dog is known to be a hypoallergenic breed, which means dog lovers with mild allergies may very well consider it for a pet.

Temperament: Portuguese Water Dogs are sound in spirit, highly intelligent, loyal and obedient. However, this breed is a very active dog, indefatigable, and energetic. These dogs are also very sociable so it’s not a good idea to leave them alone for long periods.

For more information about Portuguese Water Dogs, you may visit these websites:
Portuguese Water Dog Club of America
American Kennel Club

If you're thinking about getting a PWD, seriously consider if this dog breed is right for you.
Don't support puppy mills or buy from pet stores.
Adopt a dog from a shelter or animal rescue. Visit helping pups or petfinder.com

photo of "Bo" via: People.com

Green, Reusable Dog Beds from Molly Mutt

I want to share this very cool discovery for all dog lovers which I found through MadebyGirl. It's a green and fun way to give your dear pets the comfort they deserve. What are we talking about here?



A dog duvet and sack which becomes a relaxing dog bed from Molly Mutt- an online dog bed shop. All you need to do is fill the stuff sack with your old stuff (worn out clothes, blankets, rags), cover it with the duvet and voila. . . your earth-friendly, reusable doggie bed is ready.

What's great is that everything is recyclable and washable. You can throw in everything into the laundry, including the sack, the stuffing, and the duvet to make it clean again. No need to throw in your old dog bed to the trash when it gets dirty. Check out the Molly Mutt shop to see choices of colors and designs.

Prices range from $20-$40 depending on the size plus, enjoy 10% discount on your purchase if you're a MadebyGirl reader. Drop by MadebyGirl to avail of the discount.

This is Danny the boxer- MadebyGirl's dog, enjoying great sleep in a Molly Mutt bed.