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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Teethcleaning

29 replies

Railwayroad · 03/02/2023 06:14

How the hell do you do it? Can’t get near his teeth! Tried all ways. Meat flavoured paste etc. not a chance. Clamps his jaw shut.

any advice?

(PS I love my dog. I can’t believe how much joy he brings in our lives! His breath smells though!)

OP posts:
Breadcrumbsforall · 03/02/2023 06:57

Ours went to the vet .. cost a fair bit too I'm afraid, but it's the the first time we'd had it done and they had a special offer on the price. He's 5. His breath is lovely now. We couldn't do it ourselves either so you're not alone.

vjg13 · 03/02/2023 07:13

My greyhound is great at having his teeth cleaned and has a battery electric toothbrush. I've got a new lurcher who we've had for about 6 weeks (she's about 4) and she isn't keen, so I've got her a tiny baby toothbrush and keep trying, she is improving and they both get a teeth cleaning stick after.

Lots of people use some of the natural type antlers, ostrich bones, buffalo horns for the dog to chew on to clean teeth but you do read conflicting reviews of dogs breaking teeth etc. I have also used these. I tried plaque off with previous dogs but didn't find it made a difference.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 03/02/2023 07:13

A supplement called Plaque Off in their food, and natural treats like trachea or ostrich bones are both great for teeth cleaning. Carrots are good too. Avoid stuff like Dentastix as they're just full of sugar and really bad for them.

If his teeth are already at the stage where they're stained and smelly, you may have to get them cleaned at the vets and start over with the chews etc.

Unfortunately some breeds are more prone to bad teeth than others so you can often do everything right and they still need vet intervention!

Original poster
Railwayroad · 03/02/2023 07:14

I don’t think our vet does teeth cleaning. Will investigate.

thanks

OP posts:
vjg13 · 03/02/2023 07:16

@Railwayroad They will, they will be anaesthetised and then they do a scale and polish. You would then need to have some way of keeping them clean at home.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 03/02/2023 07:31

Railwayroad · 03/02/2023 07:14

I don’t think our vet does teeth cleaning. Will investigate.

thanks

They will - they all do it.

But the dog has to be anaesthetised so they don't like to do it unless it's a last resort for obvious reasons.

Original poster
Railwayroad · 03/02/2023 07:53

Thanks

OP posts:
MrsMorton · 03/02/2023 08:05

For most dogs, a decent diet will keep their teeth clean. Kibble, carrots, natural things like chickens feet, horns etc. Completely soft diets aren't good for teeth and as pp said, dentastix are an utter con.

WFHbore2023 · 03/02/2023 08:26

MrsMorton · 03/02/2023 08:05

For most dogs, a decent diet will keep their teeth clean. Kibble, carrots, natural things like chickens feet, horns etc. Completely soft diets aren't good for teeth and as pp said, dentastix are an utter con.

Are all dental treats pointless, or just the pedigree dentastix?

My pup has a split antler, has a chicken foot a day and we tend to stick to things like hooves, yak snacks etc. He had his 6monthly check up the other day and had a little tartar on some back teeth.

Was wondering if I should get a dental chew of some kind or not

fairgame84 · 03/02/2023 08:37

My poor old dog has chronic gingivitis from previous chemo treatment, his breath is grim.
I get him to lie down then lift his lips and quickly do his teeth at the front and sides. No chance of getting into the inside or back, but the vet said he will spread the paste around with his tongue.
We also use plaque off.
The vet recommended a liquid you can to their water, it's about £12 a bottle but it didn't make a difference.
We had his teeth done at the vet 2 years ago (cost £300) but they were soon back to being grim. Vet said she might do them again next year as he might need some extractions by then. She said to avoid the dentastix etc as they can make it worse.

jtaeapa · 03/02/2023 08:44

Some dogs are extremely prone to it. Mine has to have a dental clean at the vet next week. He’s only 4 and it’s his back teeth - he won’t let a brush near them. Vet recommended a finger brush and enzymatic toothpaste. Combined with plaque off on food. My dog’s diet is good quality - not sure what else to do. Your vet will do the procedure where they put them under anaesthetic and do a good de scale, but they won’t do regular teeth cleaning that you are supposed to do daily.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 03/02/2023 08:48

Are all dental treats pointless, or just the pedigree dentastix?

Natural is best - trachea, ears, ostrich bones, beef skins etc.

Personally I avoid horns and antlers as they're far too hard and can break their teeth and cut their gums.

Thisbastardcomputer · 03/02/2023 08:52

We've been ripped off by vets extracting teeth on one of our schnauzers, left with almost no teeth and costing just short of £1k. There's a lady called Max, who has business called Growlers at Sykehouse near Doncaster who cleans dog's teeth for £60, she gives us gel afterwards to put on the teeth daily, which we are doing.

pilates · 03/02/2023 08:57

@Breadcrumbsforall how much was it to get done at the vets?

Breadcrumbsforall · 03/02/2023 09:05

It was between £100-£200 (that was before our discount) at Vets for Pets, although reading the comments here I think we got it cheap! They did a very good job too.

KILM · 03/02/2023 09:11

A small carrot every night does wonders for our dogs breath, she also has an antler to chew on but if you were concerned about the teeth any kind of ostrich based chew is great - they are really easy on stomachs too.

Fenella123 · 03/02/2023 09:17

Is he just clamping his teeth shut or is he trying to bite you?
If he's just doing the first, you can get an electric toothbrush and at least lift his lips and clean the outside of his upper teeth.
Otherwise, does he have ostrich bones or other revolting natural chews, supervised?

fairgame84 · 03/02/2023 09:21

Thisbastardcomputer · 03/02/2023 08:52

We've been ripped off by vets extracting teeth on one of our schnauzers, left with almost no teeth and costing just short of £1k. There's a lady called Max, who has business called Growlers at Sykehouse near Doncaster who cleans dog's teeth for £60, she gives us gel afterwards to put on the teeth daily, which we are doing.

They are local to me.
They use ultrasonic cleaning but the rcvs doesn't recommend that type of cleaning.
www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/a-statement-on-anaesthesia-free-dental-procedures-for-cats-dogs/

vjg13 · 03/02/2023 09:31

@whataboutsecondbreakfast Do the trachea type treats leave much mess when they are eating them or smell? Is it one to save for summer and have in the garden like a cow's ear?

WFHbore2023 · 03/02/2023 10:06

vjg13 · 03/02/2023 09:31

@whataboutsecondbreakfast Do the trachea type treats leave much mess when they are eating them or smell? Is it one to save for summer and have in the garden like a cow's ear?

I find tracheas to be one of the least offensive of all the things I give my dog. No mess, maybe slight smell but not as bad as some

CopperMaran · 03/02/2023 10:25

Thisbastardcomputer · 03/02/2023 08:52

We've been ripped off by vets extracting teeth on one of our schnauzers, left with almost no teeth and costing just short of £1k. There's a lady called Max, who has business called Growlers at Sykehouse near Doncaster who cleans dog's teeth for £60, she gives us gel afterwards to put on the teeth daily, which we are doing.

Be wary of having it done anywhere that isn’t a vet surgery.

Anything that is more effective than cleaning their teeth yourself (or using chews etc as pp have suggested above) should go down into the gum line (and will be painful hence the legal requirement to anaesthetise the animal). Anyone who does it without being a qualified vet is likely to be doing something ineffective or doing something that is illegal.

Floralnomad · 03/02/2023 12:27

My dogs teeth go manky irrespective of what chews he has so I clean regularly and also add Aquadent plaque remover liquid to his water and that definitely helps

vjg13 · 03/02/2023 13:08

Thanks @WFHbore2023 will get some.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 03/02/2023 13:25

vjg13 · 03/02/2023 09:31

@whataboutsecondbreakfast Do the trachea type treats leave much mess when they are eating them or smell? Is it one to save for summer and have in the garden like a cow's ear?

Trachea is definitely a bit more pleasant than cows ears Grin

Eastereggsboxedupready · 03/02/2023 13:28

Ddog smashed a tooth one Halloween on a bit of pumpkin... Needed 10 teeth out and cost me £800.
😱