Daily brushing for your Shih Tzu

Moving from once a week to daily brushing is exactly the right call — your vet has done you a real favour by pushing on that. Small breeds like Shih Tzus are disproportionately prone to dental disease because their teeth are crowded into much smaller jaws, which means tartar and gum disease build up faster than in larger dogs. Dental disease is also one of the most common causes of chronic pain in dogs that owners simply don't notice until it's advanced. Before I point you toward the right products, can you tell me: how old is your Shih Tzu, has your vet flagged any specific concerns like early gum disease or tartar build-up, and how does your dog currently handle the weekly brushing — do they tolerate it reasonably well?

That's a really helpful picture. Mild gingivitis at 6 is very common in Shih Tzus and absolutely reversible with consistent daily brushing — so you're catching this at the right moment. The wiggling is normal, and honestly short daily sessions will serve you better than longer ones she dreads. The key things you need: an enzymatic toothpaste (the enzymes keep working even if brushing is imperfect) and a brush that's genuinely sized for a Shih Tzu's tiny mouth. Can I ask — are you currently using a finger brush, a small-headed toothbrush, or something else?

If it doesn't say enzymatic on the tube it almost certainly isn't — most cheap flavoured pastes are just flavouring with no active benefit. The finger brush is fine for a tolerant dog but for a wriggler it does put your finger quite close to the back teeth where Shih Tzus get the most tartar, which can make sessions stressful. Here's what I'd switch to: the Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs combined with a Virbac small finger brush or their dual-headed toothbrush. Virbac is the brand most recommended by vets for home dental care — the paste uses glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase enzymes that continue breaking down plaque even after you've finished brushing, which matters a lot when sessions are short. The poultry flavour is reliably popular with dogs who already accept chicken-flavoured paste, so the transition should be smooth. I'd pair it with the Virbac dual-ended toothbrush rather than the finger brush — the small angled head reaches her back teeth more safely when she's wiggling. Start with 30-second sessions, just the outer surfaces of the back teeth where tartar concentrates most, and build from there.

Brushing is genuinely the most effective thing — nothing replaces it. That said, for a dog with confirmed gingivitis, you could add a water additive like Vet's Best Dental Water Additive on the days brushing is rushed or she's particularly resistant. It won't substitute for brushing but it supports it. Dental chews can help too but check the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal — most chews don't carry it and aren't doing much. Logic Oral Hygiene Gel is also worth knowing about as a no-brush option for truly bad days; you rub it onto the gumline with your finger. But the honest answer is: if you nail daily brushing with the enzymatic paste, you'll see a real improvement at her next vet check.

Perfect — you're in good shape. Give it six to eight weeks of daily brushing before her next dental check and you should see the gingivitis calming down noticeably. The consistency matters far more than technique at this stage, so don't stress about perfect brushing — 30 focused seconds on the back teeth is a great win every day. Good luck with her.