How To Clean Your Whippets Teeth Correctly

Dental disease is one of the most common problems which affects 80% of all dogs by the age of two.

Which is why it’s incredibly important to stay on top of your whippet dental hygiene to keep his teeth and gums nice and healthy.

Out of all breeds of dog, whippets are exceptionally prone to bad dental issues, this can be incredibly uncomfortable for your dog which is why it should be part of your regular grooming routine.

In this post I’m going to walk you through how to clean your whippets teeth correctly, to not only ensure your pup has great healthy teeth, but his smile is as bright and blinding as ever.

Table of Contents

Cleaning Your Whippets Teeth

So where do you start when it comes to cleaning your dog’s teeth? Well, the first port of call is to speak with your veterinarian.

These are experts in this field and can show you the best way to properly clean your dog teeth without hurting his gums and gnashers.

It’s always best to see this in person as you can be sure you’re doing it correctly and safely.

Vets see many different dogs on a daily basis, so they know that brushing a whippet’s teeth is different to say brushing a pug’s teeth, as all dogs have different jaw alignments and teeth meeting points.

how to clean your whippets teeth correctly — Image: Dave Gershkoff

If you’re lucky enough to have a whippet puppy, then you’re here at the perfect time. It’s always a great idea to start brushing your dog’s teeth when he’s still a pup, as this gets him comfortable with the idea of a toothbrush.

If you’ve got an adult whippet, don’t worry – start to get your pup comfortable with the idea of having your fingers in his mouth, this will build trust and give start to make your dog more comfortable when it comes to teeth cleaning.

Steps To Clean Your Whippets Teeth

Now that we’ve established that it’s best to start cleaning your whippet’s teeth when they are puppies, let’s move on to the steps you should take to clean your dog’s teeth.

Equipment

First things first, you need to ensure that you have the proper equipment to clean your whippet’s teeth.

You should invest in a doggy toothbrush, dog toothpaste and some doggy dental wipes.

These are what you need to start cleaning your dog’s teeth at home and effectively.

All of these tools are very cheap and should be part of your dog grooming kit, they should be replaced every once in a while to ensure the best effects.

Brushing

Once you’ve got the correct tools for the job, it’s time to start brushing your dog’s teeth (bet you never thought you’d be doing this when you bought your pup).

Start by applying a thin layer of doggy toothpaste to the brush, and gently brush up and down on each of his teeth for around two to three minutes.

Hopefully, you’ve got your whippet used to the idea of you having his fingers in his mouth first, so he isn’t too uncomfortable with this process.

Over time, your whippet will get used to this and become unphased by the process.

Be sure to take your time and get all of your pup’s teeth as clean as possible.

Dental Wipes

Once you’ve completed the brushing stage, simply take out your doggy dental wipes and rub up and down on each of his teeth to remove toothpaste or extra plaque which you may have missed from the brushing.

I like to think of this as flossing for us humans, it’s going the extra mile to ensure your whippet’s teeth are as clean and healthy as possible.

This shouldn’t take you longer than 30 seconds to complete and is an effective way to keep your pup’s teeth clean.

Rinse

Now that you’ve brushed and wiped your whippet’s teeth and they’re nice and clean, it’s time to give your pup a drink.

Ensure his dog bowl is full of water as he’ll probably want to take a good couple slurps to remove the taste of the doggy toothpaste from his mouth.

Repeat

The final step in cleaning your whippet’s teeth is to repeat the process every couple of weeks.

This is crucial and will stop excess plaque and tartar building up on your dog’s teeth and gums.

Make brushing teeth a part of your whippet’s grooming routine so that he becomes used to the process, this will see that your whippet keeps bad breath away and has nice pearly whites for the rest of his days.

Consequences Of Poor Dental Hygiene

If you don’t look after your whippet’s teeth then your pup can experience some nasty consequences.

It’s best to get your whippet into the routine of good dental hygiene when he’s still a pup, so going forward he doesn’t mind you brushing his teeth.

Here are some of the consequences of poor dog dental hygiene:

Bad Breath

One of the nasty side effects of not taking care of your whippet’s oral affairs is bad breath.

If your dog isn’t a chewer, meaning he gulps down his dog food quickly without chewing and you don’t brush his teeth regularly then be prepared for some stinky puppy breath.

The most common reason for this is a plaque build-up, which not only doesn’t look the most attractive or appealing but also makes your whippet’s breath smell bad.

Plaque & Tartar

The build-up of plaque and tartar is another common side effect of poor oral hygiene in dogs, this is the brown or yellow substance that gets stuck to your whippet’s teeth.

Without proper dental hygiene, this can build up and cause further issues such as gum disease in your whippet.

That’s why it’s super important not to let plaque build up on your dog’s teeth, as it not only looks bad but can cause many health complications down the line.

Disease

This one can be quite severe in whippets, dental disease can cause pain, eroded gums, missing teeth and even bone loss.

This disease is awful and if you don’t look after your whippet’s teeth correctly it can be a sharp reality for your furry friend.

Veterinarians estimate that 85% of dogs over four years old have some sort of gum disease.

But not only this, other issues such as dental infections, cracked teeth and gum disease are also side effects of bad oral hygiene in dogs.

Longevity

The saddest consequence of all is the fact that poor oral hygiene can shorten the lifespan of your adorable whippet.

Dental disease, the most common ailment seen in canines and be fatal, meaning it can cut your whippet’s lifespan shorter than if you had looked after your dog’s teeth.

Unfortunately, dogs are unable to whip out their electric toothbrush and floss their teeth daily, so it’s up to us as responsible dog owners to look out for our whippets and keep their teeth sparkling.

Large Vet Bills

Nobody likes taking their dog to the vets, and often there’s a hefty bill that comes along after the visit unless you have pet insurance.

If your whippet is unfortunate enough to have dental disease, you may need to pay for antibiotics, pain relief, professional dental cleaning and more.

These can all be quite expensive, so it’s best to take care of your whippet’s teeth in the first instance so you can avoid those large vet bills.

Maintaining Healthy Teeth & Gums

So how do you ensure your whippet doesn’t have to go through all of the trauma associated with bad oral hygiene?

Well, it’s quite simple, looking after your dog’s teeth through proper dental care is the best way to combat disease and bad teeth.

It’s best to consult your veterinarian for further advice on how to look after your dog’s teeth, as every dog is different and what works for one dog may not work for others.

I ensure that my whippets are fed on a high quality, nutritious diet and don’t give them too many doggy treats or human food.

It’s also important to invest in the proper equipment to ensure you can stay on top of your dog’s oral hygiene, it doesn’t take very long and only needs to be done weekly, so there isn’t much excuse for not taking care of your whippet’s teeth.

Don’t allow your whippet to eat human food, as this can stick to their teeth and cause plaque build-up, and if you’re going to give your pup a treat or two, try to use dental stix or treats that aren’t going to cause your dog’s teeth much harm.

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to oral hygiene, so being prepared in the first instance is crucial, and getting your whippet into an effective dental routine whilst he’s still a pup is the best way of introducing this routine.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this post has taught you how to clean your whippet’s teeth correctly, and you now have some proactive steps to take to get your whippet on his way to white, healthy teeth.

Many people skip this step as part of their dog grooming process, however, it’s actually very important if you want to keep your whippet healthy and ensure he lives as long as possible.

Disease such as dental disease and gum disease is very dangerous for dogs, they can both be fatal if not treated and cause your dog a lot of pain.

Thankfully you now know how to look after your whippet’s teeth and what to do should you start noticing some plaque, so you should have no issues in keeping your whippet’s teeth healthy and keeping that smile on his face!