Question:
I have a 6 year old Black Lab/Ridgeback mix. She has not had her teeth
cleaned in quite a while. Having it done at the vet is getting quite
expensive. Does anyone have any ideas on a do-it-yourself treatment or is
the vet's office really the only way to go on this?? I tried a sample the
vet gave me and my dog's mouth began to foam really bad. Is this normal
or is she having a reaction to this product?
Answer:
Try a beef knuckle bone, 30 minutes every day or two. Keep in the
freezer (optional) between "treatments." You can get them for free
when supermarkets have sales on round steak. (Ex-racing Greyhound
owners can often get them free any time, if the butcher inadvertently
learns you have a rescued ex-racer.)
I've seen unbelievably dirty teeth (layer upon layer of calculus)
come pearly white after a good chew or two on a knuckle bone. Don't
use small bones, as they splinter too easily. Ask specifically for
a knuckle bone. Anything you pay for it will be less than what the
vet would charge. "Try it, you'll like it."
You can get a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste at most pet stores. I do
my dog's teeth about twice a week and he really likes it. The toothpaste
is beef flavored (!) and doesn't foam. From all I've read, DON'T use
people toothpaste, it's very high in sodium and needs to be rinsed and I
haven't gotten him to do that yet :> As far as toothbrushes go, I've
read that you can use an *extremely* soft child's toothbrush, but I spend
the extra for the dog model, it has two brushes, on large and one small.
It works best when he's tired, like when we just come in from roller
blading or something. He doesn't have the energy to fidgit. The only
real problem is that he likes the taste of the toothpaste so much, that
he tries to eat it all up before I can get any brushing done. Now if
that stuff weren't so expensive!
oh, you do have to have it professionally done at the vet first, brushing
plaque covered teeth will do no good.
Can someone explain to me why it's a big deal for the toothbrush to be
extra soft? After all, dogs chew on bones, nylabones, etc., which are
very hard.
Also, a vet in "Dog Fancy" magazine said people toothbrushes are OK.
