What is your Dental Care routine?

[BDorman]

We're trying to find the best way to keep Mabel's teeth clean. The problem is allowing us to touch her teeth. We've tried a couple of products/methods but they all involved our fingers (or some other object) on her teeth...which she does not like.

It's not that she doesn't like the products. She's crazy about licking them off of any applicator. But try to touch that applicator to her teeth...and you'd think we were cutting her heart out.

Overall she loves to be touched, petted, etc. and accepts our very thorough "tick checks" after being outside.

Any recommendations or suggestions appreciated.

Related question: What's your take on Greenies? We've heard widely different opinions.

 

[smkie]

Victor has his own electric toothbrush but i have been lazy lately and need to step up. I need to do Pepper's as well. I use a little hydrogen peroxide and some baking soda. WHen i started doing my mom's dog he was reluctant but he got use to it and now he is all good too. He has his own electric toothbrush as well. HE seems to like the vibrations.

 

[release the hounds]

bones work great for my dogs. They love it, and love it cause I don't have to do anything

 

[BostonBanker]

bones work great for my dogs.

Same here. Even when I'm not feeding much raw, I throw Meg a knuckle bone every 3 or 4 weeks and let her have at it for a few hours. I've brushed her teeth maybe 3 times in three years, and at her annual vet visit last week, the vet said you would never guess her age by looking at her teeth because they are spotless.

 

[Tankstar]

I just give blaze a raw bone a few times a week. he is turning 6 in a month, and still has pearly whites. So i guess it works well.

 

[FoxyWench]

a nice knuckle bone every 2 weeks or so for my kids keep the teeth spotless...
they think they are getting the best treat in the universe, but whats actually happening is them chewing on the bone cleans their teeth AND keeps them busy!

 

[BoxMeIn21]

My two are fed raw, so that pretty much eliminates the regular teeth cleaning. I would suggest maybe feeding a couple of raw meaty bones throughout the week, like a couple of beef ribs or a marrow bone.

 

[smkie]

My Mom's irish setter choked on a large bone and died. If we had a broken tooth or worse cemented pieces in the stomach as one Golden on here had to have surgery over i would be in deep trouble financially. I am just too scared to go that route.
A good article about the pros of bones for those that are not chicken like me.
I know a lot of people that do with no side effects. For me, i will stick with the tooth brush.
Myths About Raw: Are bones safe?
qoute from this article
Yes, problems can occur with raw bones, just as problems can occur with feeding the "safer" kibble (bloat, choking, telescoping bowel, aspirated kibble leading to pneumonia, etc.). These problems typically occur in dogs that gulp their food or are fed small things like chicken wings and necks (the prime suspects of choking incidences on raw). Other culprits are the large weight-bearing bones of herbivores, things like knuckle bones, femurs, etc. These, ironically, are the kinds of bones pet food manufacturers and some vets recommend dogs receive regularly to help keep teeth clean! These bones chip or break teeth and can have pieces of bone flake off.
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it was a nuckle bone that mom's irish setter suffocated from.

 

[Lizmo]

Raw for my guys, too. I know what risk I'm taking, but for me, the effect I've seen raw have on dogs, I think that outweighs the cons.

 

[bubbatd]

I find some knuckle bones can separate ..... stick to raw shank bones .

 

[Laurelin]

I'm still trying to find a bone Summer will chew on. *sigh*

 

[ihartgonzo]

In my experience, the best teeth-cleaner is knuckle bones. HOWEVER, that does not mean you toss your dog a knuckle bone and let them go to town. My dogs get supervised, 15-minute or so sessions with a knuckle bone and then I take it up. If they are getting overjealous I take it away. If pieces are coming off I take it away. If they have hit bone I take it away. Knuckle bones are only good as long as they are covered in tissue and cartilege. Raw bones are awesome but, just like practically anything else in the world, they are best served with strict supervision! (think of Greenies... as well as any other chewy, all of them can cause problems if they're eaten improperly)

Other good teeth cleaning raw bones include: turkey necks & wings, pork ribs & feet, lamb shanks, etc.

I also brush their teeth when ever I remember to, and/or when ever they eat fish or tripe. A few times a week at least.

 

[bubbatd]

I still am afraid to offer any poultry bones !!

 

[Maxy24]

Not my dog but I've started giving Phoebe raw bones. So far just turkey necks, they are probably one of the safest, they are not likely to break teeth, very soft. I have also heard chicken backs and beef ribs are good for her (18 pound dog). I hadn't heard of using pig feet, I'll have to ask around a little more about that.

 

[elegy]

bones here too. for dental health AND mental health

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

I got all my guys as older adults, and they hate having their mouths touched or messed with. Brushing their teeth is a stressful experience for them. And most of them don't like to chew on raw bones.

So everyone goes to the vet for a yearly dental cleaning.

 

[Gypsydals]

I use raw bones. Lucky for me rib bones and neck bones work great for Ivan (ONLY #50 dog I know that can make a 6 inch rib bone last 2 hours). Peewee its a little harder as he can crunch through most in under 30 seconds. So he gets the tooth brush which isn't fond of but tolerates it.

 

[sprintime]

Same for me - raw bones. Rib bones are nice and soft as are chicken legs, backs and necks. Mine get bones every day so their teeth never need cleaning.

 

[Toller_08]

Mine get lots of raw bones, but I also use a dental scaler on Spring. Her teeth get disgustingly dirty really easily for some reason -- just bones isn't good enough for her it seems.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Mine get regular meat with bone pieces for dinner. Tonight was chicken legs. Works better than when I used to brush teeth. Occasionally I need to scale the tops of Cider's canines. They get dirtier than Smudge's ever do.