How can I keep my dog’s teeth clean?

Not all dogs like having their teeth brushed, and if you have more than one canine companion, it might not be a practical method. Vet Vicky Payne offers some different solutions

Q: I recently had to have dental treatment for one of my spaniels. He needed several teeth removed even though he is only six years old, and the bill was quite large. I have five other dogs of various ages and although my vet suggested tooth brushing, I know I won’t be able to keep this up every day. Do dental chews work, and are there other things that I can do?

VICKY PAYNE replies: Daily brushing with an enzymatic toothpaste will keep your dogs teeth clean and healthy, but is time consuming. You may prefer to offer raw bones to gnaw on once or twice a week, but be careful to ensure that your dogs don’t fight over these. Choose softer bones such as ribs and duck necks to reduce the risk of breaking teeth.

Commercial dental chews seem helpful for small dogs, but large dogs often just swallow them in big chunks rather than chewing them, and they may prove expensive to use daily for six dogs.