What You Need

 Visit your veterinarian BEFORE brushing 

If your pet already has dental disease and you start a daily brushing regimen, it can be painful. Consult with your vet before you begin. It’s best to brush your pets' teeth every day.  This will help remove tartar deposits.

Timing is everything. Choose a time when your pet is sleepy or just woken up from a nap.  Before feeding is another good opportunity, so a meal becomes a reward.  Start off by gently handling your pet.  I place my cat on the counter, this gives me easy access to their mouth, and they are much easier to handle.

 1. BE PATIENT, this won't happen overnight. First have your pet get used to you putting something in their mouth.  Dip your finger in tuna juice and let them lick it. Then gently rub your soaked finger on their canine teeth (the large fangs in the front) and gums. After a few sessions add other teeth. Your pet will look forward to this and you can move on to the Kittyteeth toothbrush.

 2. Dip the Kittyteeth toothbrush in tuna juice and let them lick it. This will get them accustomed to the feel of the brush.  Then gently brush their canine teeth and gums and slowly add other teeth.

 3. Purchase pet toothpaste in a flavor your pet will love and repeat steps 1 & 2. Don’t use toothpaste designed for humans because it could upset your pets' stomach.

 4. Once your pet is used to the toothbrush as well as the toothpaste, you are now ready to start brushing. Speak in a happy voice while brushing and praise them. BE PATIENT; this is still new to them.   You may need to gently hold their head to reach the back teeth.  During each brushing add more teeth until you are brushing all their teeth and gums.

 5. Always rinse your pet’s toothbrush after each use and never share with other pets.

With that said, it will take time for your cat or dog to accept having their teeth brushed.  The most important thing to remember is PATIENCE!  They do not understand what you are doing and may be afraid.  With any activity involving your pet, you are training them and teaching them how to behave (hopefully) while you're brushing their teeth with the toothbrush.

  HAPPY BRUSHING!