Dental care for two Dachshunds at different ages

Dental disease in dogs is incredibly common and genuinely serious — we're talking chronic pain, not just bad breath, and small breeds like Dachshunds are especially prone to it because their teeth are crowded into a small jaw. The good news is that the right home routine makes a real difference, and it usually combines a proper toothbrush and enzymatic toothpaste with dental chews for dogs who won't sit still for brushing. To point you in the right direction: what are your two Dachshunds' names and ages, has your vet flagged any dental concerns for either of them, and will either dog tolerate having their teeth touched?

That's a really common split in a two-dog household, and the good news is you can approach them completely differently without much extra effort. For Pickle, while he's young and food-motivated, now is the perfect time to get him used to brushing — starting with a finger brush and enzymatic toothpaste he can lick off your finger, then gradually introducing the brush to his gum line. Dogs who learn this young usually accept it for life. For Marmite, since touching his mouth is off the table, your best tool is a well-chosen dental chew used consistently every single day. Before I suggest a specific product for him — how big is Marmite? Dachshunds can vary quite a bit, and chew size matters both for effectiveness and safety.

Perfect — that coconut oil habit is actually great training for you to build on with Pickle. For him, I'd start with the Beaphar Toothbrush and Toothpaste Kit, which comes with both a finger brush and a small-headed toothbrush, and the toothpaste is enzymatic and liver-flavoured so he'll treat it like a reward. Let him lick the paste off the finger brush for a week, then start gently working it along the gum line — you don't need to scrub, the enzymes do the work. For Marmite, I'd go with Whimzees Natural Dental Chews in the medium size — they're vegetable-based, very low calorie, and the textured shape is genuinely effective at mechanically scrubbing tartar as the dog chews. The key is one every day, not occasionally. Given the vet has already flagged his tartar, daily consistency is what will actually slow it down.

It's not too late at all — chews won't reverse existing tartar buildup, but they will slow down new accumulation significantly, which matters a lot at his age. If the vet didn't recommend a professional clean yet, the tartar is likely still mild enough that consistent home care can keep it manageable. If she does recommend a scale and polish at some point, that's worth doing — it resets the baseline — and then daily chews afterwards will help maintain it. Nine isn't old for a Dachshund either, so you've got plenty of runway to make a real difference. Just don't skip days with Marmite; irregular chewing is much less effective than daily.

That's a solid plan. One tip: keep the Whimzees somewhere visible — next to their leads or food — so it becomes part of the daily routine rather than something you remember three times a week. And with Pickle, go slowly with the brushing introduction; even two minutes every other day is far better than a battle every night. You'll likely see a real difference at their next vet check.