Pups Can Get Pearly Whites for the New Year

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Oliver and Tanner
Getting in the Groove of Healthy Teeth

Many dog owners tell me that brushing their dog's teeth just isn't an option for them. Either Fido hates it, the owner finds it distasteful, or it is simply too difficult to get to all the hidden spots, such as in our tiniest pups' mouths. Having experienced the latter problem with Oliver's tiny mouth, I have sought out alternatives and finally found one I like.


While at Global Pet Expo earlier this year, I discovered a multitude of gel type treatments for dogs' teeth. I saw so many different brands that had a long list of no-no's that I became a bit discouraged that I would not find one acceptable to try. Finally Tropiclean turned up with a better ingredient list--no food coloring in particular. I have a bad attitude toward that nasty stuff ever since reading where it comes from.


When I picked up the bottle, my first inclination was that it included food coloring because of its pleasant green color. Turns out that the green comes from natural ingredients in the product: chlorophyl, mint, Aloe Vera, and Green Tea. Now there's a list I can work with.

© Carrie Boyko
Oliver Licks to Spread the Gel

So how does Tropiclean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel work? According to the maker, the combination of ingredients works to break down and remove tartar over time. It is placed on the dog's teeth at night, assumably so that it remains undisturbed until morning. Tropiclean recommends administering the gel 30 minutes after water consumption, and witholding water for at least 30 minutes following the application.


What should you expect? Following the application, your dog will lick his lips repeatedly. This helps to work the gel into the saliva and around the mouth, coating all the surfaces so that it can do its job.


What about brushing? While bushing the dog's teeth is not necessary, it will speed up the removal of tartar if you are able to accomplish this. I'm thinking the reason they invented this stuff is because so many owners find it difficult to brush their dog's teeth, but I suppose it could further reduce dental problems if combined with a brushing regimen.


How often should you apply the gel? TropiClean recommends daily application for about 30 days. Following this period, most dogs can reduce the frequency of use to twice a week and still find that it works well.

We're just beginning to use this gel on Oliver, whose tiny mouth is impossible to brush in the back. He does react as the packaging describes, licking repeatedly. The smell of the gel is quite pleasant to me, and surprisingly I found that by placing a few drops on his food, he suddenly became more agreeable to having the gel applied to his teeth. Wish us luck; we're hopeful to keep his tiny choppers for a long life.


Would you like to give TropiClean a try on your pup? Big or small, it doesn't really matter. I suppose you may use a bit more on a large dog, simply because of the larger mouth and more teeth. But that could be me counting Oliver's teeth and assuming incorrectly. At 6 months when Oliver was neutered (hear that high-pitched bark; yup, that's him!) the vet had to also remove several teeth that were coming in sideways due to lack of space. He described Oliver's mouth as one of the tiniest he had seen, despite Oliver's normal Papillon size; he's 10 lbs. Check out this short video clip on Tropiclean products:






Six bottles of TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel are available for winners of this drawing. Three were provided by TropiClean and 3 by Petco, so thanks to both! This is a great New Years Resolution kind of thing to get going--taking care of your dog's teeth so he can hold on to them for a lifetime.


Tropiclean is available at your local Petco, who has provided this giveaway for you to try this product. You can also find the product at their online store for easy purchase with no traffic or long lines. If you're looking to learn more about Petco and their products, you may want to check them out at Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


If the Rafflecopter entry form does not appear below, just click on the title to make it reappear here:


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Full disclosure:  Petco and TropiClean each contributed 3 bottles to this giveaway, and I got an additional bottle from a Blogpaws conference sample for trial and review. I was not paid to share this information or run this giveaway. No purchase is necessary to win.This giveaway is available only to U.S. addresses. Please consult my Giveaway and Contest Rules for more information.