PetSugar

A Toothbrush Plus Your Pet Equals . . . ?

PetSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:00:04 -0700

I won't tattle on you to the doc since we all know brushing teeth is for the best. Even if your furry friends find it distasteful, when you do the deed, what reaction do you get?

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I Need Your Help . . . Anesthesia to Clean My Dog's Teeth?

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:30:15 -0700

Dirty teeth and stinky breath . . . no thanks! North lets me brush his chompers (since I got him used to it when he was just a pup) so he's never gone in for a professional cleaning. But one furry family needs our help with this matter – I'm calling on you to share experiences with getting your pets' teeth cleaned by a doctor using anesthesia.TeamSugar member, moco is concerned about having her eight-year-old Cocker Spaniel rescue "go under" for this procedure as recommended by the vet. While she understands the necessity of this treatment, her boyfriend is against it because he's worried about their beloved, Lola simply not waking up.

What do you think about this? Please share any advice and thoughts in the comments below.

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Does Your Pet Have Bad Breath?

PetSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:00:25 -0700

Guess they don't call it doggie breath for nothing! How's your pet smell when he comes in close for a kiss - super stinky or super sweet?

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Quick Tip: Carrots for Clean Teeth

PetSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:00:01 -0800

In the spirit of National Pet Dental Health Month, try a different approach to cleaning a pet's teeth – feed him a carrot instead! Although not meant to eliminate the need to get teeth cleaned professionally or do it yourself, a raw carrot can also help scrub away plaque. Who knew?!

North had never tried a carrot so I was excited to test this out. I washed it off and offered it to him. In typical North fashion (with no trepidation), he snatched the yum right out of my hand and brought it to his bed . . . and I followed to observe. He started out licking and nibbling on it before eventually gnawing off small pieces and eating them. I didn't have any full-sized carrots in my fridge so I gave him a baby carrot and he seemed to get the idea that he was supposed to break off pieces but, as with any edible bone or toy, monitor your pet to make sure he's not biting off more than he can chew (or not chewing at all). I think a larger carrot may work better or even a frozen one – I think it was the gnawing that helped his teeth the most! To learn the other benefits, read more.

After this success, I did a little more research about the crunchy, orange veggies. In addition to helping combat plaque and tarter, carrots are a good source of vitamins A and C and fiber. It's important not to feed them to a pet too often as vitamin A can build up in their system and sometimes cause runny poo – I'd say as a treat no more than once or twice a week.

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Clean Teeth With a Brush?

PetSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:00:28 -0800

Back when North was still a rascally pup, his "gamma" (aka, my mother) sent me a doggie toothbrushing set as a present. Before I could get down to the business of snatching him, my phone rang. I had already put the puppy paste on the brush, set it on the coffee table, and came back to a chewed-up toothbrush. Oops. Guess he liked the toothpaste flavor though the brush itself wasn't salvageable. For February's Dental Health month, I've provided some toothbrushing tips, dental chews, and mints for your furry friend, but now I want to get the real scoop from you! For my anonymous poll, I'm curious how often you actually brush your pet's teeth in the traditional manner, in addition to providing all those other options.

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Bare Bones: Clean Teeth Chompers

PetSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:00:17 -0800

February is National Pet Dental Health Month! I realize that many of us don't take the time to brush our pet's teeth as often as we should, but there are many great toys that can help a doggie do his part! Hard, rubbery toys with ridges and bumps stimulate gums, clean teeth, and keep him rather busy in the process. Braided floss products remove food debris, reduce plaque and tartar build up, and add in flouride and mint to freshen breath, too.

North and I especially like the Pearly Whites N-Bone dog dental treats. In addition to his love of toys he can chomp on, it contains clove (a natural astringent that kills the bacteria that causes tartar buildup), tri-calcium phosphate to remove tartar during chewing, and calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 to build strong and healthy teeth. Best yet, it still includes peppermint and parsley powder to freshen breath if I don't have any mints on hand. To see some of our favorite toys that do this double dental duty, read more.

Double Action Dental Chew ($8.99)	Gourdo Rubber + Rope Chew Toy ($11 and up)
Dental Kong with Rope ($9.99)	Booda Fresh N' Floss 2 Knot Cotton Rope Medium Tug for Dogs 2-Pack ($6.82)
Nylabone Dental Chew ($19.99)	Plaque Attacker Dental Device, Giant ($13.99)
Pet Stages Dental Health knot ($11.49)	Compressed Piggy Bone ($1.19 and up)	Pearly White N-Bone ($4.99 and up)

Pet Peeves: My Dog Has Dirty Teeth

PetSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:04:59 -0700

Q: My dog's teeth are pretty dirty looking, and his breath isn't so fresh either. I want to brush his teeth, but I'm not even sure where to start. Help!

A: You're not alone – dogs get plaque and tartar build-up too! Start with a meant-for-doggies toothbrush and toothpaste, like the KissAble version. Before you get started, consider your dog's temperament. If he doesn't seem to like (or is not used to) hands near his mouth, practice petting him close to it to get him acclimated. For North, I also put a little peanut butter on my finger for him to lick off – he couldn't resist! When he realized that my finger had a savory snack on it, he seemed much more interested when I put my hand near his mouth.

Next, I let him try some of the yummy-smelling, natural vanilla-flavored toothpaste off my finger. After that, he was ready for the real deal. Because he is a lil' guy, I held him on my lap – for bigger dogs, you can stand behind them and hold mouth (and upper lip) up. Always, brush teeth in a circular motion, making sure to hit all sides of each one... just like your own. I rewarded North with a bone-shaped Yip Yap Dog Mint... and he was good to go.

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Bare Bones: KissAble Toothbrush and Toothpaste

PetSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:00:34 -0700

Pets should be seen and not smelled, especially their breath! Prevent that doggy breath by brushing with the KissAble toothbrush and toothpaste set ($14.95). The unique design of the KissAble toothbrush allows owners to reach all three sides of the tooth with one stroke, and its firmer bristles clean teeth while soft bristles massage gums. The toothpaste's all-natural ingredients thwart the stink – along with gum disease and infection – while keeping his mouth clean and tartar-free. Best yet, brushing is a breeze when vanilla-flavored toothpaste has your pup licking his lips (and teeth) for more!

Floss Doggie Teeth With These Sweets

PetSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:40:05 -0700

When you finish your dinner, you get dessert, right? Well, here's a sweet treat for the next time your furry friend gobbles his meal, or one that won't ruin his appetite right before - noncandy, dessert "snacks."

Pop a little variety in pup's toy box with crocheted toys coming with a couple lasting advantages. For one, they're usually harder to immediately tear open than the standard fluffy alternatives and the tight-stitches keep the squeaker protected from those tough chompers. Secondly, the cotton strands provide a natural flossing feature to clean between doggie teeth while they chew and suck on the treat.

Don't worry, they're too big to swallow but still a perfectly cute, sugar-free photo opp. Check out the other temptations in the widget below.

For Nine Bucks, Felines Can Beat This Eco-tastic Lounge to a Pulp

PetSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:07 -0800

Get excited for this new eco-tastic find! The Bergan Scratch Lounger is 100 percent recycled - it's a pulp material (think, a huge egg carton) that felines can scratch and sleep on 'til their furry heart's content. There are no dyes, glues or chemicals making it safe for pets' tongues and teeth, but the best part? The price. Pick up one of these recliners for just $9.