[Tere]

Shadow is not a big fan of brushing but I am trying to get him used to it since he is hopefully going to get a cleaning done soon! The cleaning is proving to be another problem but his teeth are a mess.
I have been using Vet's Best which apparently contains Neem Oil. I have been using it faithfully for a couple weeks and just read yesterday how bad it is for dogs to ingest.

 

[NotAMuggle]

I use oratene, it's an enzymatic toothpaste for dogs. I also use a fingerbrush instead of a toothbrush bc Pipes will actually tolerate me reaching the teeth in the back with a fingerbrush, unlike if i were to try jamming a toothbrush back there. She understands it's my finger in the fingerbrush bc she doesn't clamp down, she like lightly nibbles as I brush/spread her toothpaste around her teeth.

 

[mudpuppymama]

I typically use plain water on a soft gauze cloth and wipe their teeth and gums down with that. I recently watched a podcast where they mentioned mixing a probiotic in water and using that to brush their teeth, or else use the probiotic as a water additive. They said you can make your own toothpaste by adding a bit of probiotic to some coconut oil and use that. They also said you can add a tiny bit of cinnamon to this mixture which has antibacterial properties.

The probiotic supposedly helps promote healthy bacteria in the mouth. I have not tried these things yet but think I am going to give it a shot.

I know lots of people use the enzymatic toothpastes but I have concerns about some of the ingredients, although they may be fine and I assume they don’t ingest that much.

 

[Melissa Brill]

Perry loves the Virbac CET Enzymatic Toothpaste, vanilla mint flavor.

 

[mudpuppymama]

After wiping Mia’s gums and teeth down, I apply this to the gum line. Note I have not used this long but the ingredients look good to me.

New Zealand Deer Velvet and Manuka Oral Spray

Deer Velvet and Manuka Oral Spray has multiple ingredients which help to control the odor causing bacteria and helps to reduce gingival inflammation.

www.nzdeervelvetproducts.com

 

[krandall]

According to my vet, the most important part is the enzymes. You want a toothpaste with enzymes. Then, although brushing is best, if all you can do is get the toothpaste in their mouth, it still has a lot of benefit.

 

[Havanese Dreams]

Kiki absolutely loves VIRBAC C.E.T. Enzymatic toothpaste in poultry flavor. She licks it off the brush like I’m giving her a treat! Then the brushing begins. I like the toothbrushes made by the same brand.

 

[LWalks]

I second the CET… Charlie loves the poultry and Jolene loves all of it (so I give her the vanilla mint bc I prefer the smell!) We actually use a toddler toothbrush on her, as it’s smaller than a lot of the dog ones, and she has a tiny little mouth. I hold it close to the brush part so I can control it well. Charlie is great about it, she’s getting there. Loving the toothpaste definitley helps!

 

[Tere]

Thank you to everyone. I ordered the CET vanilla mint since Shadow has issues with the smallest amount of chicken and I've seen it for sale at a couple vet offices. I was tempted by the Oratene though.
I have the Virbac brush and I can't fit it in to reach his back molars. He may have a more difficult mouth than the rest of the Havs.
For those who actually brush, does your dog actually open their mouth up so you can see what you are doing?
Or are you blindly trying to get everything?

 

[Heather's]

I also use the C.E.T. Enzymatic vanilla mint toothpaste. Scout thinks it's candy! He always quickly licks it off his teeth before I have a chance to brush and I then need to add more. 😁 After I'm finished brushing he won't move out of the bathroom until I give him another little taste. When I brush Truffles teeth he is right there hoping a little bit might fall off the brush. I have it on autoship at Chewy.

 

[krandall]

I second the CET… Charlie loves the poultry and Jolene loves all of it (so I give her the vanilla mint bc I prefer the smell!) We actually use a toddler toothbrush on her, as it’s smaller than a lot of the dog ones, and she has a tiny little mouth. I hold it close to the brush part so I can control it well. Charlie is great about it, she’s getting there. Loving the toothpaste definitley helps!

I agree, I like the toddler toothbrushes MUCH better!

 

[LWalks]

Thank you to everyone. I ordered the CET vanilla mint since Shadow has issues with the smallest amount of chicken and I've seen it for sale at a couple vet offices. I was tempted by the Oratene though.
I have the Virbac brush and I can't fit it in to reach his back molars. He may have a more difficult mouth than the rest of the Havs.
For those who actually brush, does your dog actually open their mouth up so you can see what you are doing?
Or are you blindly trying to get everything?

Try little toddler toothbrushes! We can’t fit the dog ones in Jolene’s mouth well either. For Charlie, it he actually lets us get in there and get each section pretty well. We usually do one side of molars at a time, and finish w the front canines and incisors. It took us ages for him to let us do the inside of the molars (tongue side) but I think that’s a bit less important anyway bc the saliva breaks things down somewhat. For Jo, she’s still learning to tolerate it, so I can’t really brush in the back as much… I more use the toothbrush to kind of smear it on the teeth. The vet said that the brushing is most important for the gums, and she does a ton of chewing so I’m not too worried about that yet anyway. One thing that helps is that I find it’s much easier to actually come from behind them rather than facing them.

 

[Melissa Brill]

We're team CET vanilla mint too with a toddler toothbrush (Perry has a spiderman toothbrush ). Perry loves the taste and starts to lick his lips the minute I pull the tube out. I have to admit that I've been slacking on brushing - have to do it more often.

I am amazed at how well some dogs will let you brush. For how crazy he is in so many ways, Cousin Finley is amazing about having his teeth brushed. He will sit there while his mom brushes top, bottom, inside of teeth and outside very thoroughly. Perry's not a fan of the actual brushing though so I generally do the top one day and the bottom the next day and just let him lick the toothpaste off the toothbrush as well.

 

[Tere]

I've been using the vanilla mint for a couple of weeks now. Shadow doesn't like the flavor so I'll try the beef flavor next. He is not very cooperative about the brushing either. I must have a different "breed" of Havanese than everyone else.

His dental cleaning is scheduled for July 5 so his tolerance for brushing needs to improve.

 

[Melissa Brill]

I've been using the vanilla mint for a couple of weeks now. Shadow doesn't like the flavor so I'll try the beef flavor next. He is not very cooperative about the brushing either. I must have a different "breed" of Havanese than everyone else.

His dental cleaning is scheduled for July 5 so his tolerance for brushing needs to improve.

Oh I wouldn't say that Perry is particularly cooperative... but he tolerates it to get the vanilla mint flavor . I'm really glad he likes that one because I don't think I could deal with the meat flavored ones (though maybe they don't smell as badly as I imagine ).

 

[krandall]

Oh I wouldn't say that Perry is particularly cooperative... but he tolerates it to get the vanilla mint flavor . I'm really glad he likes that one because I don't think I could deal with the meat flavored ones (though maybe they don't smell as badly as I imagine ).

They don't smell terrible, but the vanilla mint smells the best! And with Pixel being a big turkey poop eater... we also like that it improves her breath after a "snack"!

 

[Toffee170221]

I've been using the vanilla mint for a couple of weeks now. Shadow doesn't like the flavor so I'll try the beef flavor next. He is not very cooperative about the brushing either. I must have a different "breed" of Havanese than everyone else.

His dental cleaning is scheduled for July 5 so his tolerance for brushing needs to improve.

Toffee, like Shadow has never cooperated with having his teeth cleaned. After reading the recommendations here for the Virbac Enzymatic toothpaste, I got a tube of the poultry flavour and have gone right back to ’puppy mode’ letting him smell it first, then lick it off my finger. It’s early days yet, but we’re progressing slowly and patiently towards 🤞🏻🤞🏻brushing them properly 😁

 

[Pucks104]

Our dogs like CET Vanilla Mint.

 

[Tere]

They don't smell terrible, but the vanilla mint smells the best! And with Pixel being a big turkey poop eater... we also like that it improves her breath after a "snack"!

I "think" that Shadow is bred by the wild beast variety of Havanese, not the well-behaved, dignified type like your dogs. Except for maybe Pixel when she eats the turkey poop.

 

[krandall]

I "think" that Shadow is bred by the wild beast variety of Havanese, not the well-behaved, dignified type like your dogs. Except for maybe Pixel when she eats the turkey poop.

LOL! This has been the non-stop wild beasts around HERE the last few days!!!