Brushing Your Pet's Teeth

Brushing Your Pet's Teeth

Brushing your pet's teeth might seem like an unlikely feat, but veterinarians say it's a great idea. "The gold standard is to brush your pet's teeth on a daily basis," Cruz says. Not realistic? Aim for once or twice a week.

At the pet store, pick up a cat or dog toothpaste and a toothbrush kit, which includes a special toothbrush or a small brush that fits over your finger and inserts easily into your pet's mouth. Avoid human toothpaste, which can upset pets' stomachs.

Go slowly, Cruz says. Start by massaging your pet's muzzle for a week. Later, dab the lips with pet toothpaste. Next, introduce your pet to the toothbrush. "Don't put them in a headlock," she says, "but let them chew, let them play with it." Then you can start brushing the teeth, as many as your pet will allow in one sitting.

With a cat or small dog, you can forgo the toothbrush. Simply apply toothpaste to a Q-tip, slide it under the lips, and rub the teeth. "Q-tips work well because they're very non intimidating" for most pets, Cruz says.