How To Make Homemade Toothpaste for Dogs

You would be surprised at how often this question is asked. The most obvious reason we must brush our dogs teeth is because they cannot do it themselves. Because dogs have so many teeth in such a small space, it means their teeth become more susceptible to infection as they are more difficult to clean as thoroughly as we would like to.

If a dog does not receive the proper dental care they can suffer from periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease. This disease starts off as gingivitis but if not treated can lead to severe infection in the gums. Remember that whenever you brush your dogs teeth you should do this in small rigorous cycles at a 45 degree angle, focusing predominantly on the back of the mouth, where food tends to get caught.

There are many symptoms that are shown when your dog is suffering from a dental or gum related infection. If any of these symptoms occur, we suggest seeing your veterinarian as soon as possible:

• Incredibly bad breath, more uncommon that usual
• excessive drooling
• anxiety
• sleepleness
• a change in eating habits
• bleeding or swollen gums
• visible ulcers in the mouth area

You will need :

• 1 tablespoon of chicken broth (without salt or onion)
• 1 spoonful of powdered mint or some other aromatic herb (suitable for dogs)
• 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda
• 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Mix all the ingredients in a glass container until they are fully integrated. Once this is done, apply to the dog’s toothbrush and start brushing. Do not keep this mixture refrigerated for more than 5 days.

It is very common to add chicken stock to flavor dogs toothpaste. This flavoring is desirable to the dog and you will find they will probably lick the toothpaste because of the chickeny odor and taste. In this way, it gives our dog something pleasant to enjoy on its palate which will make the hygiene routine easier.

Aromatic herbs such as mint help control your dog's bad breath, leaving a subtle aroma. In this recipe, the vegetable oil acts as a substance which contributes to the compaction of the other ingredients.

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons of brewer's yeast
• 1 teaspoon of powdered aromatic herbs (suitable for dogs)
• 1 tablespoon of striped lemon rind
• 1 teaspoon table salt

Add all of the ingredients and mix. We recommend keeping this mixture sealed in a lid container. We also suggest keeping the paste refrigerated to prevent the yeast from becoming acidic.

Not only does lemon rid taste nice, but it is also known for whitening and brightening teeth. If there is any inflammation in of your dogs gums or in another area of its mouth, adding table salt will calm the pain, help to disinfect the area and reduce discomfort. In addition, beer yeast has properties that eliminate bacteria, helping to prevent dental plaque, the build up of tartar and bad breath.

You will need:

• 4 tablespoons of crushed stevia leaves
• 2 tablespoons of organic coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 15 drops of edible aromatic oils (suitable for dogs)

Mix the stevia, coconut oil and baking soda, stirring until the ingredients are well mixed. Add drops of aromatic oils little by little, tasting until you reach a pleasant and not very loaded flavor.

The bacteria responsible for plaque and bad breath are eliminated by stevia, a leaf extract from the Stevia rebaudiana plant. Stevia has many health benefits including its ability to eliminate fungi. Also, if you want to prevent cavities in your dog, organic coconut oil is the ideal ingredient for that due to its anti-microbial properties. It eliminates bad bacteria in your dog’s mouth and helps prevent the formation of new plaque. Natural oils are also often added to animal toothpaste as they act as mint would in human toothpaste, leaving your dog with fresh breath.

You will need:

• 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of water

In a small container, mix both ingredients until a homogeneous paste is obtained. Once equivalent to the texture of normal toothpaste, you can apply directly to your dogs teeth and brush.

Sodium bicarbonate has many properties that make it a perfect product for dental care. Not only does it whitens the enamel, but it also prevents bad breath and relieves discomfort when there are ulcers in the oral cavity.

Now this last recipe will include may of the ingredients previously mentioned. The reason why it is good to have different options of toothpastes is because sometimes your dog will not like the paste you have made or a specific ingredient or taste. For this reason, it is good to have options in order to make sure there are no excuses for not keeping your dog’s dental hygiene clean and healthy.

You will need:

• 2 melted but cooled teaspoons of coconut oil
• 3/4 cups of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of probiotics

Mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and then apply to the dog’s toothbrush and start brushing.

Cinnamon is a great ingredient in fighting infection as well as giving the dog’s breath a pleasant smell. The use of probiotics help to promote healthy bacteria in dogs mouths while oregano works as an anti-viral/fungal/bacterial booster. It is important to remember that if you are not going to refrigerate the mixture we suggest adding the probiotic right before you brush the teeth rather than in the immediate mixture. Probiotics need to be refrigerated, if not, its good bacteria will die in heat.

Now that you know how to make homemade toothpaste for dogs you should choose the one that you consider most suitable for your dog, also, do not forget these tips for correct oral cleaning:

• Brushing your dog's teeth will protect it against plaque, gingivitis, tartar and bad breath. However this does not replace the need for deep annual oral cleaning by your veterinarian.
• Small breed dogs tend to suffer from oral diseases more than medium and large dogs.
• Dogs that eat commercial feed need their teeth to be brushed more than those that eat natural homemade diets.
• Brush your dog's teeth 2 to 3 times a week.
• The best time to brush your dogs teeth is after exercise, when they are sitting and tired. This process can sometimes be quite stressful for the dog. If your dog is agitated, stop. Introduce this act little by little until it becomes familiar for your pup.
• Both commercial toothpaste and homemade toothpaste for dogs do not need to be rinsed, your dog will swallow it.
• Under no circumstances must you ever use human toothpaste for your dog.
• Baking soda can be toxic to dogs, so the amount needed for toothpaste is minimal. However, if after brushing you notice any reaction, go to your veterinarian immediately.
• The edible oils and aromatic herbs that can be consumed by dogs are mint, thyme, spearmint and eucalyptus.

Remember that not all dogs tolerate teeth brushing, if this is your case, do not forget that there are other ways to clean your dogs teeth by using flavored toys, synthetic bones, natural products or treats that are on the market with cleaning benefits.

If you want to read similar articles to How To Make Homemade Toothpaste for Dogs, we recommend you visit our Dental hygiene category.