Brush off for pets' dental health

Now that Kate's pearly whites are, indeed, pearly white I am vowing to keep them that way.

An article on Huffington Post could help me in my quest.

Our pets beg for a lot of things, but rarely do we hear them bark or purr for us to brush their teeth. Oral hygiene is just important with our pets as it is with ourselves and without proper dental care, by age three 70-80 percent of cats and dogs will develop periodontal disease, a serious oral illness that can cut a pet's life-span.

Some of the hints:

• If your pet isn't used to brushing, start with your fingers or something like medical gauze.

• Purchase a pet-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use "human" toothpaste.

• If your dog won't open up there are safe, effective, non-bristled options out there for those stubborn dogs and cats.

The article also says once a week is fine for brushing your pet's teeth, though two to three times would be ideal.

So as soon as the collar comes off next Tuesday, we'll get started.