Got questions about your dog’s health, nutrition, or oral care? Ask a pet expert!

[LibbyMumsnet]

Whether you’ve got a new puppy or a well loved senior dog, we know that caring for a dog can come with plenty of questions. Is their diet right? How do you keep their teeth healthy? How much exercise is enough?

We’ve teamed up with Pedigree® and Dr Marie-Louise Bennett to help with all your dog related questions - whether it’s about the best diet for them or maintaining their oral health.

• How it works: Post your questions below and Dr Marie-Louise Bennett will be back in a few weeks to answer.
• Prize draw: Everyone who posts a question on this thread by 24th November 2024 will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 voucher to treat your dog (or yourself, no judgement!).

Dr Marie-Louise Bennett
Dr Marie-Louise Bennett has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of veterinary oral health and has led research at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute investigating how to help prevent dental issues in dogs and cats through superior nutrition and gold standard home care.

Marie-Louise is the Scientific Communications Director for Mars Petcare Europe and works closely with key external organisations such as the British Veterinary Dental Association to help raise awareness of oral care issues in pets and ensure every animal has access to effective home oral care regimes and supportive veterinary care.

We’re looking forward to seeing your questions and helping you and your four-legged companions!

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Does feeding dogs the harder biscuits help clean their teeth after eating the soft meaty dog food ? or an I doing this in vain ?

Help I try to brush my Maltese terriers teeth, but he just growls and snarls at the brush - it's a soft one which I put over my fingers - he just wants to bite - help ! He's 3.

Is there a natural way to clean my dog's teeth? He is a 5 year old shihtzu and he has a mix of wet and dry food. We don't brush his teeth.
Do you believe in seaweed being added to food to soften the plaque and then biscuits to scrape it off? Any truth in that??

My dog (shihtzu) had to have his anal glands emptied every month.
We've been told they're poorly positioned so don't empty themselves, but the nurses still say try and add more fibre to his diet.
Will fibre really make a difference with this? He has very firm good sized poos so not sure if any diet change will help?

Itchy paws! My dog gets a seasonal allergy which causes her to lick her paws until they bleed. We've tried everything to prevent it without success so now when it occurs, normally twice a year, we have to get apoquel from the vet. It works brilliantly, but it is very expensive. I was talking to a neighbour recently and their vet has recommended washing their dogs paws with hibiscrub to stop the itch. I'd like to give this a go, next time she has an episode. how do I use it please, and it's there anything that makes it unsuitable? Advice seems to differ online.

My dog r(age 11) ecently had to have 10 teeth removed - as after a annual vet check, they showed me the extent of the infections. I felt really bad, as there were no outward signs - he ate well, and was waggy and jumpy as usual. The vet said they hide it well when teeth are bad - The infection was that bad apparently if we had left it any longer he may have had enough infection in his blood he may well have passed. We have a younger dog age 6 - what should I look out for when teeth are bad.
We give dental sticks but I guess they were not enough.

Do you have any tips for keeping dogs teeth healthy at home? Should I be getting my dogs teeth professionally cleaned?

Home made dog food or sachet dog food - which would be best - if home made, what are the essentials in every meal ?

My poorly dog- now aged 11am been diagnosed with glomerulonephritis and needs to have a low protein diet. Unfortunately she is allergic to chicken and I can’t find a commercial renal food without chicken in it. I’m willing to make her food at home, but want to get it right. Do you have any advice please?

Can I give my dog tinned fish ? It seems to work out cheaper than dog food for a dog who has a sensitive stomach - if so what is the best fish to give, and in oil or not ?

My dog won't let me brush his teeth. He is the friendliest thing but when it comes to teeth he turns. He has had to be put to sleep three times now to have them cleaned at the vet, and had 6 teeth taken out in recent months (at the back thank god). We have tried yak chews, flavoured dog toothpaste and powder that goes in his food but nothing helps. He will also only eat raw and not dry food (he will eat dry treats) which doesn't help the situation. Any advice?

What is the best way to house train a puppy - starting with puppy pads, then moving on to the garden - or garden first (I think that the garden is too distracting) and would you give treats after a wee outside ?

I’m really worried about the harm that dog flea treatments are doing to our rivers and streams - they are decimating a protected chalk stream near me.
Are there any flea treatments that will not destroy the delicate ecosystems in our water ways? Any natural alternatives to the toxic pesticides?

I've read about the powders you can use to clean your dog's teeth.
Do you recommend them.

Is it really important to brush the dogs teeth? If so how often should we be doing it?

We give regular dental sticks so I was hoping that was enough!

My dog has thinning fur from hypothyroidism. She has bald patches on her neck and sides where an old harness sat (I’ve changed the harness for a totally different design, but the bald spots are still there), and her back end and tail is thinning. She’s been on treatment for the hypothyroidism since July and she’s like a different dog in terms of energy, playfulness, and confidence. I’m wondering though, whether the fur will grow back eventually, or if I should just buy her some jumpers?!

Hi, another teeth cleaning question here.
My lovely natured schnauzer will not tolerate having his teeth brushed - we have tried every technique and product available. Even the groomer tried and he wasn't having it.
Do the 'dental sticks' you can buy actually help in any way with dental health?

Many thanks 😊

What are your thoughts on pet insurance in older dogs, my insurance has gone up year and year, and seems to have a huge excess 30% of the bill, and with too many exclusions. I am reluctant to move as I have heard of a case of this and a 7k vets fees not being covered with the new provider.

Oral health and teeth cleaning seems to be a bit of an issue for most pet owners - I remember having a dog as a child, and he lived to be 15 and had a full set of white teeth - why is this generation of dogs having so many issues with oral hygiene - are we feeding them pet food with hidden sugars ?

I've tried every type of dental stick and the powder in food. She only has dried food. At my dog's last health check, I was told to stop the dental sticks as they contain too much sugar. Frozen carrots are better apparently. She won't let me clean her teeth and I'm having to book her in for teeth cleaning under anaesthetic. What am I doing wrong and how can I care for her teeth in future?

My 11year old staffie has stopped drinking from his glass water bowl recently, since the clocks changed, he previously drank about a third of it a day. I’ve tried earthenware and metal instead which make no difference. He looks very suspicious of it if you put it near him. Have resorted to adding water to his meals which he eats happily. Any other tips, or suggestions as to why the sudden change please.

He has arthritis treated effectively with Arthrocam and gabapentin, he also has uveal cysts which he has had all his life and is developing a cataract. I believe his vision is very poor, but he manages well.

In your opinion is YuMove any good for dogs ? I have been purchasing this for my elderly dog - but he still got arthritis and needs Metacam once a day - I feel that I have wasted my money.

What causes those occasional killer dog farts if the diet is always the same?

Ddog has a lot of tartar but as he's old, the vet recommended not giving him anaesthetic for a deep clean. What can we give him for fresher breath and to help his teeth?

My question is about dew claws - I am so worried about catching one and hurting my dog - can you get them removed - or what can I do to keep them short ?