How to Scale a Dog's teeth

Clean teeth and healthy gums are vital for your pet's health. You can save a lot of money for yourself and a lot of stress for your pup if you can scale your dog's teeth rather than having to take you pet into the vet to have it done professionally. Here are some pointers on how to do it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   This is a double ended scaler with flat and curved ends.

   You need a tooth scaler. Pet stores and catalogs carry them. You can even use a human tooth scaler.

2. Some adult dogs are open to having their teeth scaled but it's usually easier if you can acclimate your dog to the process when a young puppy. The process of getting the dog used to scaling is the same no matter what the age. Get your dog used to having your fingers in his/her mouth. Play and touch the teeth, tongue and lips and make it into a gently play. You want the experience to be positive, but not to get your pet excited. Once your pup is comfortable with this activity, add a gentle tap or scrape of the scaler against a tooth or two until the dog doesn't take notice of the action. Then start scaling just the littlest bit at a time until your pup has the patience and tolerance to do more.

3. If your dog is skittish, try rewarding him or her with praise and maybe even a little food treat each step of the way. Again, you're working to create a reasonably pleasant association here.

4. 
    

   Although you might see buff, yellow or even brown material all over a tooth, the most important place to remove it is along the gum line where it can do the worst damage. You will probably want to clean the whole tooth, but if you don't, prioritize the gum line.

5. 
    

   Use the scraper to chip off the colored plaque. Sometimes it will come off in big chips. Sometimes you have to work at scraping it a little at a time. If you can pry off a thickened area, you might be able to pop off a chip which, of course, is faster and more rewarding than scraping the stuff slowly. Go gently. It takes time to get accurate. If you have a young dog and you do this regularly, you will never have a lot to do which is easier on both of you. If the plaque has built up, you may want to clean the teeth in several sessions.

6. Try to keep the whole process as cheerful as you can for the dog so he or she doesn't balk the next time you need to scale teeth. Encourage and praise your dog constantly. (I can't say that enough.) And when you are done, make sure you reward him or her with food, a toy, play or something else that will move his/her mind to something fun. This way the pup will not only re-focus on having fun, but will have a more positive association with tooth cleaning when the next session rolls around.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't try this if you do not have a good rapport with your dog or the dog is growling.
• Don't fight with the dog. Either go slower and make it gentler or have a professional do the job.
• Forcing will never work.