Author Topic: Dental care (Read 4184 times)

Rosemary · « **on:** March 10, 2010, 10:12:04 pm »

Our dogs are 10 this year and are pretty fit and healthy, but their teeth are not lovely, I'm ashamed to say. They don't have really bad dog breath, though, unless they have been eating chicken poo.

I bought two toothbrushes and some enzyme toothpaste (chicken flavour) and have started brushing their teeth. Their gums do bleed a wee bit, but I suppose I just have to persevere. Question is though, am I wasting my time? If the teeth have tartar already will brushing remove it?

Also I got a wee catalogue through the post with dog stuff in it and there was stuff called "Plaque Off" which you feed and it works through the bloodstream to soften tartar deposits. Anyone tried it - does it work or is it a rip-off?

doganjo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2010, 10:35:28 pm »

I can lend you a dental scraper, will be in Alloa Friday lunchtime and won't need it till after Crufts now so can show you how to use it. You place it at the gum and prize off the tartar deposits. There are dental kits in Poundland but I don't know how substantial they are. You will get gum bleed when you first start to clean their teeth same as we can if you don't brush for a day, but it will stop. My dogs all have their teeth scraped about every three months.

Rosemary · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2010, 09:09:21 am »

That woudl be great but would you show me how to use it? I don't want to do more damage than good. Tess, for being a witch, is remarably good at getting her teeth brushed. Better than Meg, who squirms around. They didn't bleed today but maybe I was gentler.

I'm around Friday from about 1pm if you can swing by for a demo!

doganjo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2010, 10:05:13 am »

Yes, will do. 1pm should be fine as I'm at the Bank at 12, should be finished by then.

Rosemary · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2010, 05:39:33 pm »

Not robbing it, I hope. This is a respectable neighbourhood!

doganjo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2010, 07:03:32 pm »

He he - no, vice versa ,Bank robbing my kids of their inheritance by paying rubbish interest rates

ballingall · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2010, 12:59:00 pm »

Alex,'s mum and dad use something in the dogs waterbowl that is supposed to help their teeth- can't remember what its called but I can check. They say it has made an improvement. They are both ex racing greyhounds (the dogs, not his parents!) and have rubbish teeth because they were fed on mush for a long while.

Beth

Sylvia · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2010, 04:52:40 pm »

I would reccomend "proper" feeding! Large chunks of raw meat, loads of raw bones, raw chicken (wings for littlies, legs for the biggies) raw carrots and wholemeal mixer.
I have old greyhounds whose teeth are beautiful (and G.H's are notorious for awful teeth) on this diet. If you haven't a good butcher near who will let you have his waste, a lot of abbatoirs will sell you a BARF diet.
I also give garlic powder, cod liver oil and brewers yeast tablets, and lightly cooked cabbage.

Jackie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2010, 08:02:59 pm »

You know there is a little trick you can do to help old dogs gums if they are imflamed and infected.

Smear a little human toothpaste over the gums as it will kill any bacteria and allow the gums to heal. Use your finger to do this and lift the water bowl for about half an hour so they cant drink and rinse it off .

Twice per day for 7 days or untill you notice a difference.