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Annie's Mom

Ratterific

06/23/2008 1:22 PM
Lucy our 9 month old has lots of tarter already on her back teeth any chew toy ideas to help get them clean. I will talk to the vet at our next visit but I thought you all might have some ideas until then. Thanks for any advice.

Mitzy's Mom

Alpha Feist

06/23/2008 1:36 PM
That's very interesting and confirms something I suspected - as we have a little foster girl who the vet said was about 10 months old but I was thinking she was older because of the tartar build up! Apparently, if a dog has a bad diet (she was a stray and then was eating shelter food. ick.) or is just prone to having bad teeth (happens especially to small mouthed dogs) then the tartar can build quickly and they can look older than they are. With Morgandy I've been feed her a high quality food now for 2 weeks PLUS giving her Petzlife oral gel to disolve tartar PLUS giving her bully sticks to chew on. She also chews on other toys like Nylabones, etc. So - her little teeth are looking so much better!! A lot of tartar has come off and I can see that the teeth underneath are indeed very white like a puppy's teeth - so she probably is only 10 months old.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom www.ratbonerescues.com; www.newrattitude.org

Annie's Mom

Ratterific

06/23/2008 2:24 PM
We got Lucy when she was 11 weeks and have feed quality food so that can't be it. I do wonder however if it has anything to do with her being a pet store baby? I know I know I can't believe we got a pet store baby. She was supposed to be rat min pin mix we think she has lots of whippet but who really knows. All I know is she has is the most perfectly sweet pup. I googled petzlife oral gel. sounds like a great product I will go get some. We haven't had any bully sticks in a while I'll get some of those also. Thanks for the reply .

gwacie

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

06/23/2008 2:55 PM
Even quality kibble can (and does) build up on the enamel surface. It's sticky and if the kibble has grains that can compound the situation. If your dog will tolerate it, you might try to fill her bowl with water and kibble for meals (we used to do this for our greyhound who had the WORST teeth). Also Petslife can help maintain tarter levels to a minimum as well as brushing. Also nothing beats a raw beef knuckle now and again for dental hygene IMO.

gwacie (Bethany) My Doggies: http://www.myadams.net/dogs/ Rescue: http://www.newrattitude.org

Mitzy's Mom

Alpha Feist

06/23/2008 2:58 PM
My Mitzy has eaten good food, too, but her little teeth just aren't good. She was probably the result of a backyard breeder and her genetics just aren't the best. Now, my Mayfly, is a little over 3 years old and hasn't had to have a dental cleaning yet but will be due for one soon. She just has better teeth AND likes to chew more. Hopefully now with the Petzlife that will mean fewer vet cleanings for all of them. It does take a few weeks to start working and make sure you give it to her when she won't have anything to eat or drink for half hour before and after. Works faster if you use it to brush her teeth but I just apply it to my dogs teeth...they dont' like the toothbrush.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom www.ratbonerescues.com; www.newrattitude.org

Mitzy's Mom

Alpha Feist

06/23/2008 3:02 PM
I've heard that about the raw beef knuckles. However, I don't want to give raw anything to be onthe floor inside the house. And I can't give it to them outside because the darn fire ants would swarm over the bones and the dogs would get bitten. Not to mention it's too hot for me to stay out there with them for long. But if you CAN give the raw bones I've heard great things about how they clean the teeth.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom www.ratbonerescues.com; www.newrattitude.org

gwacie

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

06/23/2008 4:21 PM
I usually feed RMBs on old towels. My dogs know if they leave the towel they lose the bone so they stay on their towels. I have to say one big advantage of a balanced raw diet is that Roxy and Zip, who both have eaten raw for almost 9 years have neither of them ever had a dental. I am taking roxy in this week since she is no longer able to tolerate bone and doesnt' like to chew so this past year her teeth have really started to show the diet changes. The vet says Zip has the teeth of a healthy 4 or 5 year old. It's pretty astounding.

gwacie (Bethany) My Doggies: http://www.myadams.net/dogs/ Rescue: http://www.newrattitude.org

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