How to clean a puppy’s teeth?

Brushing your dog'steeth is just as important in preventing dental disease as brushing your own. Ideally your pet should get used to having its teeth cleaned from an early age.

• Wrapping a piece of soft gauze around your finger and gently rubbing the dog's teeth should get it used to the idea.
• You can then move on to using a toothbrush specially designed for pets. 
• Toothbrushes which fit over the end of your finger are available for dogs and cats and are very easy to use.
• Use an enzymatic toothpaste to remove plaque and reduce tartar formation and help keep pets’ and reduces bad breath.
• Pet toothpastes are flavoured with chicken or beef to ensure that they love the taste and to make brushing more enjoyable.
• Do not attempt to use human toothpaste.  It contains fluoride and as dogs won’t spit it out it can do serious harm. 

When do they lose their first teeth?

This usually begins at 4 months and the canine teeth drop out at about 6 months.  You may find them lying about the floor or sometimes puppies swallow them.