This post contains affiliate links of products I’ve used and love. The opinions here are 100% mine. If you purchase through the links I receive a small advertising fee at no extra cost to you. This is my personal opinion and it does not replace veterinary advice. Always consult a vet.
I’m going to share a product I absolutely love. In my Review of an Easy Teeth Cleaner for Dogs and Cats I will share how this product has made a major impact in our dogs’ health and lives, as well as my own as a pet owner. I want the best for my dogs; I love them as members of my family. Use of this product called Fresh Dental is a daily routine at our house.
I love dogs, however bad dog breath is a known issue. But think about it, if you never ever brush your teeth, your breath would start to stink in no time. Dogs teeth need to be cleaned somehow. As a long time pet owner with history of working in a veterinary clinic I’ve seen many pets with bad teeth who needed an expensive dental cleaning procedure. It’s a big deal, they go under anesthesia and they have to stay at the clinic for the day, something they hate.
Kipper
We have had four dogs throughout the years and Kipper has been our hardest to deal with on many levels. Let me tell you a little bit about Kipper because his fears brought me to this product. He was left with his siblings and mother in a house for days because the owner went to jail. The dogs were brought to a shelter by the police where he lived for about two years before he was taken in by a rescue group to live in a foster home for about six months. His life changed when we adopted him but he came to us with an extreme multitude of fears.
He has always had massive fears related to anything that even remotely seems like a procedure. His fears can be illustrated by the fact that he would pee and defecate in the sink for a simple bath. He is a twenty pound dog, but when he is petrified he has the strength and bite of a Great Dane. However, his sweet loving and devoted demeanor is boundless, as long as no procedures are looming near him. He has come a long way in trusting us and he allows us to do nail trims.
With his fears brushing his teeth with a toothbrush was next to impossible. His difficult nature set me on the path to find a product I could successfully use on him. We needed a product that would keep his teeth from rotting and minimize the need for a scary procedure like a dental at a vet office.
I Tried Them All
I tried all the products I could find on the market. The veterinary office toothpaste, the squirt bottle cleansers, the water additives, the chews, the wipes, and the toothpaste from pet supply stores but they either didn’t make a difference or I couldn’t get near him enough to try them. Then one day I saw the Fresh Dental product sitting on the shelf at Target. It was natural, cruelty free, made in the USA, and it could be used without a toothbrush. I was intrigued to try it with Kipper so I popped in in my cart with high hopes of success.
Success!
I brought it home and right before I went to sleep, when Kipper was calm on the bed I instituted my plan. He was not scared of me or my hands because I always was petting him. I squeezed out a glob of this minty gel between between my thumb and index finger. The bottle was left on the counter so he couldn’t see it. I kept my thumb and index finger close together to retain the gel as I walked from the bathroom to the bed. To reassure him I pet him with my other hand. Next I opened my fingers wider right when my hand reached his mouth and I slid both fingers alongside both sides of his teeth.
He let me do it! I was completely amazed and ecstatic because I had found a solution that worked for this scared little guy. My theory is he allowed me to do the cleaning because I didn’t use any toothbrush or other application technique other than my own fingers. Earning his trust had been a long tough road, but it had paid off because I could finally clean his teeth.
The directions on the bottle said I could reduce the frequency of application after a month of use, however I didn’t want Kipper to lose his comfortable feel for this nightly procedure so I’ve kept it up for five years now. His does still have stinky breath, but he has not had any cavities and his plaque and tarter buildup seem to be at a minimum. He is evaluated by our vet at least once a year and he has not needed any dental procedures yet.
Affilate link:
I Recommend This Product
I completely recommend this product. Our other dog is less fearful and she allows me to apply this to her teeth. She is younger and so I clean her teeth with this cleaner about two times a week per the instructions on the bottle. I smear it along the outside and inside of all teeth. The dogs also lick their chops after I apply it so they actually help spread it around also. I am so happy with this product; it has honestly made a giant difference in the dental health of our pets.
Simply wash your hands when you are done. The dogs may not love the application, but they will enjoy a healthier mouth. As the pet owner, you will enjoy this too because it could give you less vet bills and it will give you a happier, healthier pet. They may need a dental procedure at some point in their lives but I’m fully convinced this product benefits their lives.
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