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Nothin’ Says Lovin’
Like Pearly White Teeth
& Healthy Pink Gums!
By Tia Resleure
Most new IG owners have lots of things on their we make sure that our children do it, as well. Italian
minds. Ideally, they had already researched the breed for Greyhounds need daily tooth brushing.
months, years in some cases. They know to enroll their new According to the American Veterinary Dental
dog in obedience classes, buy a premium quality food, and College (AVDC), dogs suffer more from periodontal disease
always use a properly fitting martingale collar. They were than from any other illness. Dental neglect is not merely a
given lots of advice by their breeder or rescue rep, and later cosmetic problem, it is a health problem. Consequently, good
by their veterinarian, on how to keep the new family member dental care is just as important for the pet IG as for the show
safe and healthy. dog. Dental neglect causes a lot more than bad breath and a
Ironically, it is unlikely anyone mentioned or suffi- toothache. It can cause behavioral changes in your IG like
ciently stressed the one simple thing an owner can do which reduced appetite, increased irritability, and a reluctance to
could literally add years to his IG’s life. It takes only a few being touched.
minutes a day and can be done right at home whenever con- But, the real danger of periodontal disease lies in the
venient. It costs next to nothing. We do it for ourselves and fact that the bacteria it produces does not remain confined to
IG Times Summer 05 17
the teeth and mouth. It travels all through the bloodstream to The Most Effective Products To Use
every system of the body and lodges in places like the kid-
neys, liver and heart where it does irreversible and potential- For starters, avoid the toothpastes that dogs are sup-
ly life-threatening damage. posed to find delicious! “Tasty" beef or poultry flavor will
Italian Greyhounds, like many other toy breeds, are make your dog lick a lot as you are brushing, resulting in
particularly prone to gum disease because of the design of more work for poorer results. Mint flavor is alright because
their heads and mouths. Saliva contains the enzymes that it does not appeal to dogs, plus it makes their breath fresher.
start the digestive process of breaking down the food we all It is best to use a cat toothbrush or a human baby
eat. Think about the “drooling breeds” like the St. Bernard toothbrush with soft bristles. The finger brushes and dog
and the Great Pyrenees. All that saliva sloshing around in toothbrushes are too large. Dental cloths or pads are not near-
their mouths chemically breaks down and rinses away the ly as effective for cleaning at the gum line, in crevices, and on
food bits which cling to the surface of their teeth. IGs, on the the inside of the mouth.
other hand, have long narrow skulls with tight lips and a dry A fine-pointed syringe (Monoject 412) filled with
mouth. They do not generate much saliva and what they do warm water will be helpful to use in conjunction with a rub-
produce has little chance of coming in contact with the front ber-pointed dental pick (from any drugstore) to flush out
surfaces of their teeth. An IG’s tight lips actually hold small chunks of debris that wedge between crowded teeth.
food particles against the gum line until they are mechanical- For daily brushing, Maxi Guard Oral Cleansing Gel is
ly removed. my favorite. Brush daily, alternating between MaxiGuard (or
other unflavored or mint natural canine toothpaste) and a
Straight Talk About Daily Brushing canine oral solution like Nolvadent which contains .12%
Chlorhexidine (an antibacterial). Maxi Guard is available
Misleading, even downright false, statements about from PetMed and Nolvadent from Dr's. Foster & Smith (call
the need for daily mechanical plaque removal abound in this 1-800-826-7206 for a catalogue).
breed. How often have we read something like this on an IG If you notice a gum problem such as bleeding or
website? "Brush as often as you can, but at least once or inflammation, use the Chlorhexidine solution daily until the
twice a week to prevent gum disease.” Or, “A yearly profes- problem subsides. You can ask your vet about using a
sional dental cleaning by your veterinarian is highly recom- stronger Chlorhexidine solution for minor infections. Most
mended." vets have 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate concentrate on hand
This is misleading, downright bad advice. The rule which can be diluted and applied to the gum line after brush-
of thumb is this: Brush DAILY for excellent oral health. ing. Always apply this with a Q-tip or a very small syringe.
Brush every other day for mediocre oral heath. Brush only Avoid flushing the whole mouth, as you want to discourage
every 3 days and tartar formation begins. The first few times ingestion.
you skip brushing on that third day, the tartar will start lock- The constant use of products which contain
ing onto the tooth’s enamel. At first, you won’t be able to see Chlorhexidine can cause slight yellowing of the teeth, which
it with your naked eye but brushing at this stage will no longer might not be desirable in a young show dog. With a healthy
remove it, and over time it will darken. Your IG is developing mouth, I recommend using the regular toothpaste daily and a
periodontal disease. solution with Chlorhexidine only once every week or two. Be
I bet we’ve all have heard someone say, "Well, sure to always use lukewarm water to rinse the toothbrush.
weekly brushing is better than none at all!" I say, ask your Ordering items online can be far less expensive than
dog if he agrees. When we brush an IG’s teeth as seldom as purchasing from a pet store. I always order several bottles of
once or twice a week, he is still going to need yearly anesthe- MaxiGuard at a time to save on shipping and to ensure that I
sia dental cleanings and probably extractions, too. During never run out. Other wholesale pet supply catalogs might
that year between cleanings, occasional brushing can become have what you need. Just be sure that the paste you purchase
torture for the dog as his gums become increasingly inflamed isn't a “tasty” flavor.
and receded. Dogs are "hardwired" to mask their suffering. Incidentally, catalogs and pet stores bombard cus-
Most will not complain until pain becomes excruciating. We tomers with a wide variety of tempting products that claim
really should ask ourselves which is best for the dog, brush- they effortlessly keep your dog’s teeth clean. “Dental” chews
ing daily or dooming him to bad breath, chronic mouth pain, or chew toys, biscuits and special dental diets may help main-
and yearly anesthesia and extractions? tain oral hygiene but they are by no means an effective substi-
An added bonus to daily dental care is that you will tute for daily brushing. When it comes to taking proper care o f
not only strengthen the bond you have with your dog but you t e teeth, there “ain’t no free lunch”!
h
will learn to detect the early signs of unhealthy gums which
can be an indication of more serious impending health prob- Getting Started
lems. Be sure to have your vet examine your dog's mouth on
a yearly basis even though you are brushing daily and the Brushing should be done gently but with a confident,
mouth appears healthy. firm attitude that says, "I am not going to hurt you but we are
18 www.igtimes.com
going to do this.” Begin these sessions when you have my vet as an assistant, I was the primary person scaling teeth
enough time to go slowly and keep at it until you are finished. during anesthesia dentals at his clinic. I am not a licensed vet
Do not attempt the training if you are already feeling frustrat- tech but it is not necessary to be one to clean teeth at a vet-
ed or impatient. Your IG doesn't have to love the procedure erinary hospital. One day my vet brought in his own dog and
but he must learn to accept it. "Don't be silly. This doesn't I pointed out that her teeth needed cleaning and that her bad
hurt.” “ Now cut it out, this is important.” Do not be harsh breath wasn't good advertising for the clinic. I asked him if
or show your aggravation or uncertainty. Treat brushing as he would like me to do a standing dental on her. His reply
just another fact of life, and be sure to PRAISE whenever the was, "Oh, Frankie won't let you do that!" To say that he was
dog is actually behaving! shocked when she did is an understatement. Our clinic
Start training your IG as soon as his adult offered standing dentals from that day on. He asks me to
teeth are in. Brushing while the dog is in a prone position will evaluate any dogs that he feels would benefit from an anes-
not only be easier, but it will help train him to eventually thesia-free cleaning.
accept a standing dental. I do dog's nails while they are prone Let your vet know that you would like them to at
for this same reason. least be open to trying standing dentals. If you and your IG
Excessive mouth handling of a teething puppy is have become skilled with daily brushing, maybe he will let
pointless. He can develop into an adult who will always you restrain your dog while he scales the teeth. It also can't
resent having his mouth handled, even when it is really nec- hurt to request that he try to find someone who could provide
essary. Gently lifting the lips and touching the gums of a this service for his clinic.
puppy is generally enough to have it accept later mouth han-
dling. Yes, You Can Do This!
Anesthesia Dentals The illustrated instructions which follow demon-
strate each step of the brushing process. It is never too late
If you should ever notice inflamed or receding gums to begin a regimen for excellent oral health, but the earlier
(very common on the front teeth) or an unpleasant odor from you start the better. When we approach brushing with a calm
your dog’s mouth, see your veterinarian to have the mouth but firm attitude, our IGs quickly learn that the procedure is
checked thoroughly. Bad breath is NOT normal. If your IG not going to hurt. Much like trimming nails, the process is
has a serious problem such as loose teeth, extensive gum only as traumatic as we allow it to be. Each time your dog
recession, or plaque buildup on the inside of teeth, he will struggles and gets loose, he will be encouraged to escalate his
need to be put under anesthesia to correct the problem. If he effort at "arguing" with you. With an IG, this can result in
is older and you are just learning to care properly for his teeth hysterics of operatic proportions! Do not be intimidated by
you will probably need to start your good dental habits after a this type of performance. You will find that when the brushee
thorough anesthesia dental. relaxes and realizes that the brusher is not going to hurt him,
No one should be so afraid of anesthetic that they daily brushing becomes quite routine.
neglect getting a necessary veterinary procedure. While it is Once you get in the habit of thoroughly brushing
foolish, costly, and unkind to your IG to normalize yearly your IG’s teeth daily, he may never need a standing or anes-
anesthesia dentals just to avoid daily tooth brushing, do not thesia dental ever again. You should still have his teeth thor-
hesitate to have one done when it is needed. The good news oughly inspected by a professional at least once a year,
is that when you begin brushing your dog’s teeth daily, though. Yearly veterinary exams are a very important part of
chances are he will never need another anesthesia dental. responsible pet ownership.
To those naysayers who still think daily brushing is
Standing Dentals going overboard, I would challenge them to compare their
IG’s teeth with the 5+ year-old Italian Greyhound in the
demonstration photos. She has never needed an anesthesia
Most vets won't want to knock a dog out for minor dental, and she probably never will.
tartar accumulation. Standing (no anaesthesia) dentals should
be done as needed. Working with someone capable of per- ~~~
forming a standing dental will not only get the teeth clean
before they become a problem, but can help point out areas About the author: Tia Resleure has done behavioral counseling and
where you could brush better. taught obedience for twenty years. She has been performing stand-
Unfortunately, few veterinary practices offer stand- ing dentals for her employer for the past seven. She and Debbie
Avila founded California IG Rescue (visit at www.cigrescue.org) so
ing dentals. Great patience and a certain amount of natural
she has seen hundreds of cases of horrific dental neglect. Tia knows
talent are required to scale a dog's teeth while he is awake. It first-hand how periodontal disease, left unchecked, can be fatal. See
is not something one can learn in a classroom. Current law in www.home.earthlink.net/~la_bete/index.html. for additional com-
California requires that standing dentals be performed under ments and photos. For another excellent article, based on a 4 year
the supervision of a veterinarian. When I started working for clinical study, see www.italiangreyhound.org/health/perioprv.html.
IG Times Summer 05 19
Steps 1-4~Getting Your Dog To Relax On His Back Or His Side
It is simple to teach your dog to relax on his side or back. Hold him in your lap, pressed gently but firmly against your chest,
with a pillow at your left. Bend your upper body downward toward the pillow. Slide your left arm out from behind the dog,
letting his weight rest on the pillow sandwiched between your chest and the pillow. Move your right hand to his shoulder
to keep him in place. Don't try to sit up until he appears resigned to staying put. Once he has relaxed, slowly raise your
body back to a sitting position. Keep the dog in place with your left hand and reach for the toothbrush with your right hand.
Step 5~Alternate Position Step 6~Control The Head
This is the “lap position” for brushing the teeth. Here, you Once he is in position, hold his muzzle with your left hand
are using the pillow to support the rear end of the dog as to control his head. Your right hand will do the brushing
illustrated above. The upper torso, head and neck are being and the pressure from your right forearm will prevent the
supported by your lap. (With smaller IGs, you may be able dog from shifting or getting away from you. More than half
to cradle the entire dog in your lap between your legs, it's the battle is becoming skilled at restraining your dog in such
head pointed toward your knees. I really like this position a way that he can't get loose from your firm grip. Think of
for small dogs because it gives them good support, gives him like a Native American papoose. Holding him snugly
me good control, and I can prop my feet up on an ottoman.) transmits a sense of security to him and keeps him calmer.
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Steps 7-9~Brushing The Premolars And Upper Canines
The small upper and lower teeth at the sides of the mouth are the premolars. They are located between the canines (the
“fangs”) and the large molars in the back. To get the brush inside the dog's cheek, hold the head of the brush on it's side and
work it gently into the corner of the dog's mouth. Use your thumb to raise the upper lip so you can see where the gum line
is. You can expose the lower gum line by pulling the lower lip downward with your fingers. You will find this is also a good
position for brushing the outside surface of the upper canines. Always brush briskly but gently, using a small circular motion.
Steps 10-11~Moving To The Upper Back Molars
Now use the toothbrush to stretch the cheek away from the teeth so you can see just how far back the teeth go. As your dog
gets accustomed to having his teeth brushed, get into the habit of looking at each tooth carefully to inspect for plaque or tar-
tar you might be missing. Watch for any signs of infection such as bleeding and red or inflamed gums. Such problems will
be extremely rare if you are brushing daily. There is frequently a third small molar behind the front two larger molars. It is
usually positioned curving inward toward the interior of the mouth. (The close-up photo above right was taken with the
dog's nose pointed up and to the right.) You probably won't see this small tooth just by pulling the cheek back. Try feeling
for it with your finger, or prop the mouth open and pull back the cheek to get a better look. I prop the mouth open and brush
these small back teeth by feel (see Step 16). Inspect all of the molars frequently to be sure you are brushing them thoroughly.
IG Times Summer 05 21
Step 12~Outside
Back Molars
Some dogs figure out the trick of
pulling the corner of their mouths
back far enough to get the tooth-
brush to pop out of the mouth.
(Picture a very insincere, forced
grin!) To prevent this, use your
thumb to stretch the upper lip for-
ward toward the dog's nose. Note
that the teeth go as far back as the
hairy mole on the cheek. You can
see in this illustration that the brush
should also be reaching back that far.
Steps 13-15~Getting To The Lower Molars
You will not be able to brush the lower molars efficiently without propping the dog's mouth open. The illustrations above
demonstrate good hand positions for propping open the mouth. If your dog tends to bite down too hard on your finger, you
can use your left forefinger to press the dog's left lip into the side of the mouth, against the premolars. The discomfort to
the dog is not terrible but it is usually sufficient to discourage him from biting down so hard on your finger. Only when the
dog is biting down too hard is this necessary. Notice in the center photo how I use my left thumb against the lower jaw to
help keep the mouth open. The illustration on the right shows another position that some people find easier for reaching
certain parts of the dog’s mouth, especially the back left side. You can see that I have the entire mouth and lower jaw sta-
bilized with my hand and fingers. Without stabilizing that lower jaw, you will not be able to maintain control of the head.
If you feel that it helps, you can also use the last three fingers of your brush-holding hand to help keep the dog's head steady.
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Step 16~That Little
Rear Molar
Now that you know about that little
molar that is hiding way in the back
of the dog’s mouth (see Step 11) and
how to feel for it with your finger,
this is how you brush it. With the
dog’s mouth propped open, as shown
at left, you will be able to reach that
rearmost molar and also the two
large upper molars located in front of
it. This position will also provide
you with unobstructed access to those
lower molars down to the gum line.
Steps 17-19~Front Incisors, Inside Premolars, Lower Canines
Do not change your hold on the dog’s head when you have finished brushing the outside of all the molars on the right side
of the mouth. You already have your dog in a good position to move straight to the incisors, those small teeth on the top and
bottom between the canines. You will be able to easily reach the outside surfaces of the upper and lower incisors, and you
will be able to see where those gum lines are located. To reach the inside surface of the incisors, pry the mouth open slight-
ly as in the illustration above on the right. When you have finished brushing the inside surfaces of the upper and lower inci-
sors, continue to hold your dog in this position. From here you will also be able to brush the upper and lower inside sur-
faces of the premolars. (You brushed the outside of the premolars in Steps 7-9.) Continue to hold the dog in this position
when you have finished because it also gives you good access to the outside surfaces of the lower canines. I have found I
can do a better job of brushing the lower canines in this position if I pry the mouth open slightly as in the photo on the right.
IG Times Summer 05 23
Steps 20-21~Reaching The Insides Of The Molars
Contrary to popular belief, most IGs will eventually get tartar build-up on the insides of their molars. I've seen some with
terrible gum recession in this area. You will want to have your dog conditioned to having the teeth brushed before working
here. The dog will feel like he is gagging, especially on the lowers. Try to brush here as calmly and quickly as possible.
This is the only step I will concede is quite difficult and might be overwhelming for the average owner. If you find it impos-
sible, ask your vet to check the inside lower molars specifically during your annual check-ups. The good news is that this
is probably the last place your dog will accumulate tartar. Move to the left side of the mouth by turning the head back to
face you as in the illustration above right. Repeat the same process. Don't forget to wag the dogs muzzle gently if he is tense.
Winding Up Each Session & Final Tips
How you end each brushing session is very important! Scoop the dog into your arms on your terms, meaning that you con-
trol the change of position, not the dog. Give some happy snugs and kisses and tell him how great he is. This is the ultimate
reward for his cooperation. Before he goes his merry way, lay back and let him play at dominating you a bit. Most dogs
will get very frisky and smother you with kisses--a sure sign that they really didn't resent your taking charge all that much.
* If getting to the rear of the mouth seemed difficult, try experimenting with different holding positions (photo above left).
* Brush the teeth in whatever order you prefer so long as you remain consistent and get all the surfaces thoroughly brushed.
* You must see the gum line (photo above right) to brush well. When you can’t see it, pull the lips further out of the way.
* The whole procedure will probably feel terribly awkward at first. Just be patient and keep at it. You will find your rythm!
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