Beagle Dog
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How to Brush Beagle Teeth & Dental Care
Overview
Not long ago, owners (and even veterinarians) believed that a dog took care of their own dental needs. It was thought that chewing on bones did all of the work. We now know that this is not true.
Dogs do not often develop cavities as humans do. However, dogs easily develop tooth decay, infections, plague & tarter buildup...that can quickly destroy a dog's teeth and lead to many health issues.
How can you keep your Beagle healthy? Learning how to brush your Beagle teeth is high on the list. Your Beagle needs:
Dogs do not often develop cavities as humans do. However, dogs easily develop tooth decay, infections, plague & tarter buildup...that can quickly destroy a dog's teeth and lead to many health issues.
How can you keep your Beagle healthy? Learning how to brush your Beagle teeth is high on the list. Your Beagle needs:
- Daily bushings at home
- Professional cleaning with the veterinarian
- Daily brushing will remove plague and debris
- Professional cleanings will remove tarter and check for more serious dental problems before they progress to something extreme.
When to Start
Dental care must begin the moment you obtain your Beagle. Whether your dog comes to you as an 8 week old puppy or an older adult, brushing your dog's teeth should be high on your list. Older, adult dogs may not have had a previous owner who cared for their teeth, therefore the following training will be relevant for any Beagle dog.
How to Brush Your Beagle's Teeth
Just like anything new that you are introducing to you dog, you must train your Beagle to become used to having their teeth cleaned.
First 2 Weeks
During the first 2 weeks, you will simply want your Beagle to become used to having their teeth touched. This is a very important step. Once you train your dog to sit still and behave while you do this, actually brushing them with paste will be a lot easier. Here are some tips to remember:
- Do this every day. Dogs who are given training randomly have a difficult time learning something new
- Choose 1 time of the day in which it will be "Tooth Cleaning Time". Dogs who have a schedule do much better, as well. It does not matter if you choose 8 AM, 12 Noon or 8 PM...however once you choose a time, so stick with it.
- Choose a quiet place where you will not be disturbed
- Have your Beagle sit
- Gently rub your fingers all across your dog's teeth
While you are doing this, talk to your Beagle soothingly and with a proud tone. When done, be sure to give great praise and a yummy dog treat. While your dog may at first try to run away, patience and consistency will train him or her to sit for you during this time.
Tip: If your Beagle does run, do not "give chase". Your dog will see this as a game...they run....you run after them...what fun! Just stay calm, slowly walk up to them, pick them up if you must, bring them back to the designated area and begin again. You will find that with young puppies, cradling them in your lap may prove work better than asking them to sit for you. Once your Beagle has been trained to stay with you for dental care, you can always move up to having them sit.
The Next Month
Once your Beagle has gotten used to having his or her teeth touched, it is time to take this to step 2. You will want to obtain a dog finger brush or alternatively you may use some damp gauze. A dog finger brush is a small piece of rubber with soft knobs that slips over your finger to clean the dog's teeth. This is recommended as it will allow your Beagle to get prepared for the next step.
For the first week, just go over each tooth with the dog finger brush and water. Then, as each week progresses, begin to use more and more of a dog tooth paste. Note: It is very important to never use human toothpaste. A dog will swallow most of the paste and human toothpaste is can be toxic if too much is swallowed. Therefore, only use dog toothpaste that you obtain from a pet supply store or from your veterinarian.
The 2nd Month
Now that your Beagle has learned that every single day, at a certain time it is "Tooth Brushing Time" , has learned to be accustomed to the feeling & is used to the flavor of the dog tooth paste, it is time to move to the last step of using a regular dog tooth brush.
A regular dog tooth brush will remove more plague than your finger wrapped in gauze or the dog finger brush. Spend 5 to 10 minutes per day brushing your Beagle's teeth. Follow with great praise and a treat; either play time with you, a dog toy or a yummy dog treat.
Professional Care
The veterinarian will perform several tasks during what is called a "Full Dental". One will be removing plague. If you wish, you may do this task at home. This is called "Scraping". Scraping your Beagle's teeth is actually fairly easy. You may use a dog tooth scraper; however a human plague scraper works just as well. This will work in the same way that humans scrape their own teeth.
With your Beagle in your lap and his head cradled back, each tooth will be scraped. It is important to wipe the scraper onto a washcloth after each tooth scraping, as loose plague can and will be swallowed. Ingesting that plague can be toxic to a dog.
If you choose to scrap your Beagle's teeth yourself, be sure to ask the veterinarian if you are correctly removing the plague. If so, you only must bring your dog for a "Full Dental" every 2 years.
If you choose to have the veterinarian do this, it is suggested to go each year.
Do be aware that during a "Full Dental", most dogs are sedated. Not only will plague be removed, but x-rays will be taken as well. Any issues will be resolved to keep your Beagle as healthy as possible.
Misaligned Teeth
It is not uncommon for an adult tooth to begin growing in while a puppy tooth is still in place. In this event, it is important for the veterinarian to remove the puppy tooth. Doing so, will allow the adult tooth to move into proper place. Leaving "Two rows of teeth" even if in just 1 spot can play havoc in your dog's mouth. The adult tooth will grow in crocked and the dog's bite will be misaligned. This can cause eating problems and quite a bit of discomfort. Since teeth drop quickly, as soon as this is noticed you will want to have that puppy tooth removed.
More Information
To keep your dog healthy, one must understand all dental issues, all Beagle health issues & all Beagle behavior issues. We have put together 355 pages of this information for you, in a easy-to-read format. And if you still have any questions, our Beagle Pro Experts answer to you directly within 3 days...For FREE...For LIFE. Learn More Here.
