Teeth Cleaning

[Mitzi]

To answer Cynthia & Percy about teeth cleaning. My dog who is 5 will be 6 in November has never had her teeth cleaned by the vet. I brush them every day with a toothbrush and rub them with a cloth. My vet said her teeth are perfect and do no require a cleaning as no tartar and gums are in great shape.

 

[Lady Jane]

Good for you. I have a cat who is 14 years old now and I too brush and wipe her teeth/gums every day with a tooth past that has enzymes to dissolve tarter. She has perfect teeth and gums so far. Yes, she protest when I do this but overall an animal is healthier when the mouth is cleaned.

 

[Milo]

I can help answer questions if you have any specifically, if your vet is recommending that it needs to be done I would trust their word

 

[Pipsqueak]

I raw feed my dog and he cleans his teeth with bones .

 

[Cynthia & Percy]

thanks for the answer i thought that may be why your dog would not hold the ball my dog needs dental work because a hit and run

 

[schnitzle]

When we adopted our dogs they were 2 years old, had not been cared for properly and already were in need of a cleaning. When we took them for their first visit we set up and appointment to have it done. IMO dogs with smaller mouths can be a bit more difficult to get into and clean, so despite brushing we always had a yearly dental cleaning. Another thing that complicated tooth care was that our dogs didn't chew on anything that wasn't a treat. No chew toys, or rope toys or dental chews. No way! They would chew bones but then they'd get in a fight over them too. And the female actually cracked a molar on a bone and had to have it extracted.

We were never perfect with brushing until later in their lives. The vet gave us a 6 week training schedule to get them used to the brushing. While they didn't learn to really LOVE having their teeth brushed, they tolerate it pretty well. Our male mini dachshund always had healthy teeth, but his sister has had awful teeth. She's had to go to regular vet cleanings, but she's also had to go to a veterinary dental specialist. She has had to have a few teeth extracted. Brushing with enzymatic tooth paste and a chlorhexidine rinse has made SO much difference in her dental health. Regardless, she still needs to go to the vet to have her teeth cleaned professionally once a year. It's around $200 to have it done.

Does that help?

 

[Milo]

I raw feed my dog and he cleans his teeth with bones .

Bones won't clean a dog's teeth. Eating them may help prevent tartar buildup but that's not a guarantee. Personally I would never allow my dog to eat bones, hooves, or antlers of any kind.

 

[Milo]

thanks for the answer i thought that may be why your dog would not hold the ball my dog needs dental work because a hit and run

That is really unfortunate do you know how extensive the damage is? If it's a more complicated case you might consider a specialist to get it sorted out rather then a general practitioner.

 

[Lady Jane]

I agree bones do not take the place of a good brush and dental paste.

 

[Pipsqueak]

Bones won't clean a dog's teeth. Eating them may help prevent tartar buildup but that's not a guarantee. Personally I would never allow my dog to eat bones, hooves, or antlers of any kind.

Well, we feed raw and the bones definitely help clean the teeth but mainly the diet doesn't impact them as much as kibble would anyway. When bone is raw it is softer and doesn't splint as cooked bone. I feed chicken and turkey necks often, I do not feed weight baring bones like leg bones. What comes out on the other end is very different to a kibble poop too . I don't feed the antlers or don't need anything that hard anyway. We don't feed any treats either, I use dried liver or lung for training. Diet is the main factor for tooth and coat health, I add coconut oil too.