Teeth Cleaning

[Huntin54]

When my dad took one of our dogs to the vet a while back she said he should have his teeth cleaned since it can cause heart disease. Should we have the teeth cleaned or is this a way for them to get more money. And also what would be the best bones to keep the teeth clean.

[timberdoodle]

get the teeth cleaned!!

Greenies are about the best for teeth and gums, pretty expensive tho

[show dog]

The teeth can be looked after at home with some time and patience. I had my dog's teeth cleaned once under an anaesthetic. Never again. Mouth was a mess within no time. I then started a daily tooth brushing regime. The gums bled for the first few days then started to toughen up. The problem with heart disease is the bacteria that enters through the gums not the 'tooth'. So gum care is very important. I also eventually learned how to scrape the tartar off the teeth. Bought a couple of dental tools from Pet Supply House. Taught dogs to lay still (sit in them) and let me scrape their teeth. So I use my toothpaste, my old toothbrush and a two ended dental tool. since I changed to raw feeding the back teeth are gleaming, gums are healthy, breath is fresh. Have to scale the front canines once in a while. Amazing difference. I use beef leg bones for them to chew once in awhile too. Gets the blood flowing nto the gums. carolyn

[Huntin54]

thanks

[Bunny Runner]

I use raw beef short ribs or deer ribs to clean my dogs teeth. Now I know no one wants to hear my story of my two rescued chihuahua's but I am going to tell you any way. They are both 4 years old and their teeth were a MESS! I was looking at about $1000 for their dentals by a vet. I had been reading alot about the benefits of raw meaty bones and raw recreational bones being great for the teeth. I have tried EVERYTHING on the market for teeth, but nothing seemed to work. I finally gave in to my research and tried the raw meatly bones and recreational bones. With in the first couple of times I gave them, the chihuahua's teeth were SO much better. You could actually see the surface of their teeth and all the tarter was gone. There was still some staining but, I was HAPPY! Now, there is hardly any staining and they really love RMB night at my house.

Now I am not gonna have to pay a VET TECH $1000's of dollars to clean my dogs teeth (any of them). The beagles love the bones as well, just have to use a bit more caution when feeding these, as I need to avoid tbe big scuffle the bones can cause.

Renee'

[Huntin54]

Can u buy them at the store Bunny.

[Bunny Runner]

I get the beef ribs and short ribs at the grocery store when they are on sale. For the chihuahua's, I get the "meat guy" to cut them in smaller pieces. The deer ribs just get cut off the rib cage and fed as is (raw). I usually give two deer ribs per dog, and I always stay down at the kennels when giving raw bones so I can break up any scuffles that may happen. They all go GA-GA over their bones and can get pretty defensive. When they eat the bones, this adds needed calcium/phosphrous and also helps to firm up their stool (which helps anal gland expression), and of course, keeps their teeth clean.

[show dog]

I get my raw bones at the grocery store. If you have a butcher near by, they usually sell the bigger beef bones for next to nothing. I just found the bones too big and didn't want to ask to have them cut down at the butcher. If you want lots, I'm sure they would cut them smaller for you. I would avoid pork bones though- seems that pork upsets the dog system pretty good. Don't give often, maybe once a week. More and the bones will cause constipation and blockage. Keep in the freezer. Carolyn

[Huntin54]

Thanks for the help we have a butcher up the road in town. I will tell my mom next time she goes there to get some.