Brushing your greyhound’s teeth every day will cut down on the bacteria, plus, brushing is much easier on a dog compared with being anesthetized for a teeth cleaning--especially true if the dog is a senior citizen. An older dog’s liver has a harder time breaking down the anesthetizing drug.
If your dog has not had regular brushing or a dental cleaning since you adopted her, you must get an idea of the shape the teeth are in. Lift your dog's lip to get a good look at the teeth. Is there tartar along the gumline? Is there an odor coming from the dog's mouth? If you answered yes, consult with your veterinarian and come up with a plan for your dog's dental care.
You may be able to hold off with having the dog anesthetized for a cleaning and start brushing the teeth every day to get problems under control. On the other hand, if your vet feels your dog is healthy enough, and young enough, for the procedure, a thorough, professional cleaning may be in order. Your dog will need to be fasted for several hours before the procedure so there will be less chance of gastric upset while she is under anesthesia.
When you pick up your dog from the vet after the cleaning, ask her the best way to keep up with your greyhound’s oral hygiene now that the teeth are really clean. Dog enzymatic toothpaste comes in different flavors such as poultry, vanilla mint, or malt to make it more appealing. 24 Hour Pet offers enzymatic toothpaste for dogs. The brush should be soft or very soft as to not damage sensitive gums.
Begin the brushing by lifting the lip and brushing the outsides of the back top molars. Just as with your own teeth, try to work the brush in a circular motion on the dog’s teeth. Your dog will most likely begin to chew on the toothbrush, but this will only help facilitate a thorough cleaning. Be sure to go over the front teeth a couple times, too, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
Now that you are familiar with what your dog needs for dental care, try to stick to a plan. Evaluate the teeth, educate yourself, and take the appropriate actions so poor oral hygiene for your dog is a thing of the past. While each dog is different, this could be the last dental and anesthetizing your greyhound needs.
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