Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I saw a comment from another member which prompted me to start this thread. What have you found to be the best solution for your dog's teeth? I would like to avoid going to the vet if I can find a decent solution to maintaining the health of my dogs teeth and gums.
Brushing them daily an enzymatic toothpaste made especially for dogs is a great start. Also, allowing them to chew rope toys, various parts of cattle that you can get; tracheas, tendons and the like are beneficial so long as you supervise them and they dont' actually eat the rope toys.
If your dog will let you, brushing is the most effective home care. If it's not tolerated, chewing on bones and dental chews will help. You can also by something called Oxyfresh which you put in your pets water to help kill bacteria/bad breath. The oxyfresh alone will not do much, but combined with other home care, can be helpful.
Feeding them dry food helps. But most importantly, if you get the dog into the habit of having its teeth brushed at least weekly, you are off to a good start. I've found dental cleaners with some type of chlorhexidine solution work best. However, even the best efforts don't work the same with all breeds. My beagle has great teeth even at 16, but my Yorkie has had dental problems since he was young despite daily brushing.
Because I just came back from the anual vet exam for my 2 pups.
I was concerned as well, about their teeth and gums, since they both HATE getting their teeth brushed, and will not co-operate what so ever. So, the only alternative I have is to give them meaty bones, and pig ears in between. (Raw hide makes them both sick, a rope they will have taken apart and will eat it within 1/2 hour, and those mint chew things for clean breath and clean teeth they hate with a passion and won't eat either!!!)
The vet checked both (one pup is 1 1/2 the other 4 years old), and he says, whatever I am doing, to keep on doing. Teeth and gums on both are EXCELLENT!
(I was prepared of having my oldest ones teeth cleaned at the vet's office!...huh....what a relief....LOL )
if you don't do a raw diet, occasionally give them a whole raw chicken back for supper - the bone does an excellent job of scraping all the gunk off the teeth. Mine are on a raw diet and they have Pepsodent smiles!
Chicken bones?? Let me think for a moment - the chicken back is a softer bone? Is that okay - I though anything with chicken bone was a no-no as it could choak or get stuck in their throats. Thanks Sam I Am
Only the cooked bones are really bad - they can splinter because they are dried out. Obviously, pick a bone that the dog can't swallow whole. Some people grind up the bones very roughly with a meat grinder - I have Rottweilers, though, so I don't grind anything - they do a fine job on their own.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Funny to discover this thread......
)
