Cleaning Dog Teeth Miniature Schnauzer Dental Care
Cleaning dog teeth - an important part of your dog care routine. Brushing your Miniature Schnauzer's teeth at home daily will prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar, which in turn slows down and stops the progression of periodontal disease. And on the previous page we learned the devastating effects of periodontal disease in dogs. It is therefore important to incorporate regular oral hygiene as part of your Miniature Schnauzer's care.
Cleaning dog teeth only requires a few minutes of your time a day and once you make it part of your daily routine, your Miniature Schnauzer will begin to accept the process. The pay off for cleaning dog teeth is huge. So grab a dog toothbrush, finger brush and dog toothpaste and lets begin cleaning dog teeth!
How To Brush Your Schnauzer's Teeth
Choose a time of the day when your dog is calm and relaxed. Have on-hand the needed supplies: dog toothbrush, finger brush, and dog toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste as it contains ingredients that may be harmful to your dog. Begin the process by giving your Miniature Schnauzer a good oral exam. Check for bad breath, plaque, tartar, tooth decay and gum disease.
Lightly place your thumbs on either side of your Mini Schnauzer's muzzle and gently stoke downward feeling for any lumps or abnormalities.
Next lift your Miniature Schnauzer's lip and look at his teeth. You are looking for any signs of tartar (a brownish yellow or red discoloration close to the gum line).
Then check your Miniature Schnauzer's gum lines. Your Miniature Schnauzer's gums should be a healthy pink (not red and swollen). Using your index finger, softly stroke your Schnauzer's gum line. Does this cause bleeding?
And what about that breath? Is your Miniature Schnauzer's breath fresh? If not, it is probably a sign of canine dental disease.
Now, lift your your Miniature Schnauzer's lip and begin in the back of the mouth. Use back-and-forth strokes. Do Not apply too much pressure as this could damage your Miniature Schnauzer's gum line. Plus you want your Schnauzer to accept the process. So use light pressure.
note: If your dog's gums begin to bleed while brushing them, you are either applying too much pressure or it may be a sign of gum disease and you will need to refer to your vet.
Spend at least 30 seconds of brushing time on each side of the outer teeth. Don't worry about brushing the inside teeth, as most dogs will resist this. Enough of the dog gel or toothpaste will be distributed to this area and cleaned by your Schnauzer's tongue.
Brushing the front dog teeth is the most uncomfortable for your Miniature Schnauzer. Be sure to use extra care on this area by using super soft gentle strokes or just use your index finger.
Be reassuring and help keep your dog calm by speaking soft praises to your Miniature Schnauzer throughout the entire process.
Once you finish, be sure to reward your Miniature Schnauzer with something special. I prefer lots of kisses and a walk around the neighborhood, instead of treats. Mainly because I want the PetzLife gel (what I use) to have time to work. So no food or drink for the next 30 minutes or so, which allows the natural ingredients to coat all surfaces of your pet’s teeth and gums.
Cleaning dog teeth is not that hard. Again, just try and spend a minimum of 30 seconds on each side of your your Miniature Schnauzer's mouth.
And that's it!
Cleaning dog teeth dental tip: Buying dental chews and toys like the Busy Buddy Bone will also help clean your dog's teeth, reduce tartar, and improve dental health!
This particular toy features a solid nylon chew bone with varying textured rings taking up the middle. With durable nylon bristles to clean and brush teeth, a soft rubber ring to massage and stimulate the gumline and natural rawhide treat rings (which can be replaced once eaten) to encourage chewing offers yet another way to help keep your dog's teeth cleaned.
Watch a video of a pup having his teeth brushed!
Recognizing the importance of pet dental care, yet frightened of having your Miniature Schnauzer 'go under' (we've all heard the horror stories of beloved pets dying under anesthesia)? I thought I would let you all know what products I find do a good job at keeping plaque and tartar at bay.
It doesn't happen overnight, but with the use of PetzLife Oral Care Dental Gel for Dogs and Cats you can keep tartar off your pet's teeth. Check out the before & after photos! And if you decide to buy, it's on sale right now, too!
