I get emails nearly everyday from people all over the world, asking me for my healing assistance with their pet companions.

Q: My vet wants to clean my companion’s teeth under anesthesia. What can I do to prevent this? Is this really necessary?

A: I can barely imagine how my teeth would look and feel if I never cleaned, brushed or flossed them! The same applies to your pet. Dental care is a very important part of your companion’s health.

Broken teeth, abscessed teeth, oral tumors, gum disease, and many other oral problems affect our pets. These conditions can be painful, yet remain undetected for years.

Home care for your companion can make a tremendous difference in their comfort and health. Anything you can do to help prevent plaque and tartar accumulation will pay back big dividends. The more you can do at home, the less that will have to be done by a veterinarian.

Brushing your companion’s teeth is the single most effective means to curtail dental disease. This makes sense because the bacterial film known as “plaque” is the root of many dental problems. This film is easily displaced by simple mechanical disruption as the teeth are brushed. Daily brushing is required to improve dental health, while brushing every other day will help maintain the dental health in its current state.

I got Fritzl when he was a little over one years old. Fritzl ran like hell when I first began brushing his teeth. My vet gave me a little toothbrush that I clip onto my index finger along with some special chicken flavored toothpaste. Avoid human toothpastes as they usually contain abrasives and detergents that can be irritating if swallowed.

The key to success is to be gentle, patient and gradual in your approach, brushing mainly the outsides of the “cheek teeth”.

The way I got Fritzl over this was to brush his teeth while he was still in his bath water. Fritzl gets so relaxed during his bath, that he sleeps for hours afterwards like a baby. Almost all dogs will eventually accept brushing. If your companion resists brushing frequently, it may be because they have painful areas in their mouth that need to be addressed.

Another great dental aid is chew type products. Anything that helps increase chewing can be of benefit. To the surprise of many owners, feeding exclusively dry food is of little benefit.

My natural pet store has a wide variety of soft toys that focus on cleaning teeth. One even has natural baking soda in it as it flosses teeth!

I do not recommend cow hooves, pig ears, natural bones, or hard Nylabones. These are all harder than teeth, and are frequently associated with broken teeth. All chew toys require that you monitor your pet while they are using the product. Never leave your companion unattended while they are enjoying their chew toys.

Fritzl loves Greenies. They are a dog chew that is shaped in the form of a toothbrush.

for a smile like Fritzl's, try Greenies

Greenies eliminate offensive breath while cleaning teeth, plaque and tartar build-up. They are free of preservatives, artificial flavors and colors and have a taste Fritzl can’t resist!

You should see his smile!

Go to Fritzl's Cupboard to see recommended natural products.
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