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!

Insight T&Cs apply

@prawncocktailcrispss - Dogs will very often carry on eating as if nothing is wrong even when their teeth are really painful. They are after all pack animals at heart and are programmed to hide their pain. You can usually tell that there is an issue if their breath is bad, they have red gums or your notice blood on chews, toys etc. Some vet practices will let you pay for treatment over a period of months rather than in one go so it would be worth just checking with your vet if they feel a scale and polish is necessary. Never let a groomer clean your dog's teeth - it is a process that can only be done safely and correctly whilst the dog is under GA.

@ButterOllocks - We (as humans) have fillings to fill cavities that result from us eating too much sugar. Dogs very rarely get these cavities and so do not need fillings. If a dog fractures a tooth however then sometimes they can have a root canal procedure to save the tooth. If a tooth needs extracting due to periodontal (gum) disease this is because there is not enough ligament and bone to hold the tooth in anymore due to the disease and so it cannot be saved.

@Ilostmyhalo - This sounds like one that should be checked by your vet as soon as possible. With eye conditions it is really important to act fast so that you get the best possible long term outcome.

@jacqui5366 - Absolutely! I would begin by incorporating hand signals into existing commands they know already. Specific touch can also be used to cure certain behaviours. Also, if you notice your dog is becoming unsure of certain environments then keep it on the lead to avoid any potential issues.

Thank you for all your questions! We hope you found @DrMarieLouiseBennett answers helpful.

The winner of the prize draw is @itsywitsy - congratulations!

Please be aware that this whole thread is a paid advert for a commercial
pet manufacturer. It is hopeless asking for sensible advice as they just want to promote their product.

When brushing a chihuahua’s teeth, what is the best implement to use. She has such a tiny jaw, I’ve tried with finger brushes but even in my very slim fingers they’re to big. Trying to get her to tolerate a small headed tooth brush at the moment.