If brushing your dog’s teeth feels like a wrestling match you never signed up for, you’re in good company. Dental care is crucial, yet it’s the one routine most dog parents quietly avoid because the struggle is real and exhausting.
Here’s the surprising part: keeping your dog’s teeth clean doesn’t have to look anything like brushing. When I adopted my dog, Henry, I made it my mission to protect his teeth without daily scrubbing or pricey anesthesia cleanings. Honestly, I wasn’t convinced it would work.
But it did. Years later, Henry’s teeth are still in great shape thanks to a simple, low-stress habit almost no one talks about. In this article, you’ll discover the strategy that keeps plaque in check, saves money, and completely sidesteps the toothbrush battle. Your future self and your dog might thank you.
Budget tip:
Dog oral health and teeth care can be expensive when your pup needs a professional vet cleaning. This is especially true if your dog develops dental disease. But, if you take daily steps to keep your dog's teeth clean you might just avoid more pricey and risky measures. Like I do for Henry with a dental spray. That’s a great win-win for you and your pup!
Are some dogs more prone to dental issues than other dogs?
Actually, to my surprise, some dogs can be prone to dental and mouth issues. As an example, I have a friend with two dachshunds. One has pretty good teeth. The other has pockets within her gums that will collect food like a squirrel and speed the decay of her teeth.
Thus, the dachshund with pockets has undergone at least one tooth extraction each year. Her dental problems and, consequently, dental surgery are difficult for her and her human parents. Of course, she has a recovery period with pain medication and a return visit to the veterinary care clinic to remove stitches.
Does vet dental cleaning have to include anesthesia?
No, a vet pet tooth cleaning doesn’t have to include anesthesia. However, most veterinary dentistry clinics will only perform teeth cleaning with anesthesia. This is mainly because if the vet discovers any serious dental issues requiring a tooth extraction, they can be done immediately.
What’s the best proper dental care I should do for my dog daily?
Of course, you’ll want your vet to do an inspection at your bi-annual visits. However, beyond that on a daily basis, you’ll want to keep inspecting your dog’s teeth to make sure they are healthy (bright white color and not loose), none are missing, and clean your dog’s teeth.
Additionally, encouraging your dog to drink water is great for healthy teeth on top of a healthy diet. Moreover, avoiding too many processed dog treats is always a great idea.
My dog hates having his teeth brushed. What can I do?
There are many dogs and pets that simply don’t like having their teeth brushed. It doesn’t really matter how much you entice them to try to like it or try to train them to the procedure. They just will resist it.
However, there are solutions for these dogs. You can use products like:
What do I use for Henry’s dental care?
I know you’re curious about Henry’s regular dental care. Personally, I’m very pleased with the routine I’ve developed that has kept him from needing a professional vet dental cleaning. It’s almost like a badge of validation when I go to the vet and he says, exams Henry’s teeth and proclaims, “His teeth look great!”
Sometimes I think they don’t look as good as they should or I would like. For example, after he was attacked by two dogs and was recovering in a cone of shame, I wasn’t as strict about cleaning his teeth.
Thus, I noticed a big difference. But I felt like he needed a break from most things to let his little body heal. We got back on track and within a short while his teeth looked great again!
I admit, my routine for his teeth has changed over the years. When I first adopted Henry, I used one dental spray, which worked very well. However, that company was sold to another company and it’s no longer being made.
Henry’s daily low-cost dental care routine is easy
After much research, I found another dental spray. Henry doesn’t mind at all. Plus, it keeps his breath fresh too.
This is very similar to the dental spray I currently use for Henry. Actually, all the ingredients are the same—just different labels.
Moreover, I give Henry dental chews daily. He really loves them. However, he knocked a front tooth a few years ago. So, now I’m a bit more cautious with him eating hard items.
However, I found some with dental paste in the middle and are slightly less hard than most. They seem to work great!
Here are the dental chews Henry loves!
What if I clean my dog’s teeth, but he still needs a vet dental cleaning? Are there cheaper options?
First, if this happens, don’t be too hard on yourself. As I said before, some dogs are predisposed to teeth issues.
Second, if you have pet insurance, check to see if dental cleaning is covered. A lot of pet insurance will cover these types of procedures.
Third, you can use CareCredit, your pet savings account, or your dog’s emergency care fund as well for teeth cleaning.
However, you may also want to call your local SPCA or your shelter for low-cost options for dental cleaning. These folks will be able to provide you with an affordable animal hospital that can offer you dog teeth cleaning at a lower rate.
Finally, there is an organization that offers low-cost pet dental cleaning. However, you have to make an appointment and be in the Savannah, Georgia area. But if you’re near this area, it could be worth calling or visiting their website.
Want to set up an emergency dog account? In this article, I walk you through how to do it.
How do I know my dog needs to see the vet concerning dental care?
There will be signs your dog is having teeth or mouth issues. These can include:
- Not willing to eat as much as normal (or as enthusiastically)
- Weight loss
- Discolored teeth, usually tartar or plaque
- Bad breath (not just from their food) but a horrible breath
- Mouth is sensitive to touch
- Teeth appear loose or are missing
- Dropping food or drooling, which is a new behavior
Can I really save any money by caring for my dog’s teeth daily?
Not only is taking care of your furry friend’s teeth good for their overall health, but it can save you a lot of money. This is the benefit of being proactive. Even if your dog is prone to teeth issues, the severity of your pup’s dental issues may not be as extreme with daily care. Consider the following for a moment:
| Professional vet teeth cleaning (includes anesthesia) | $500-3000+ |
| Dog teeth extraction | $10-3000 |
| Pain medication and antibiotics | $10-40 |
Related articles:
- 8 Awesome Reasons Your Dog Needs Water
- Is There a Cheap Easy Way to Train Your Dog?
- Do You Know The Easy Way Pumpkin Can Cut Dog Costs?
- My Dog Loves Savings Accounts. Surprised?
- Emergency Dog Fund: How Much Money Should You Save?
- 10 Steps to Find the Best Vet
Easy and Effective Low-Cost Dog Dental Care
While we may easily notice our dog’s coats, or feet, teeth take a bit more effort. Moreover, it means your dog often needs to cooperate. But the payoff can be big! For me, it’s been huge! I know Henry even doesn’t mind it. He turns his head and smiles waiting for the spray on both sides of his mouth each morning. Then he anxiously awaits his dental chew in the afternoon.
This process has been simple. Moreover, since his teeth are shiny white, he doesn’t need a professional vet tooth cleaning. That’s great for Henry’s health and my pocketbook!
Henry’s vet even approves of his dental routine as well. What could be better?
