Advice on teeth please!

brighteyes

brighteyes

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What's the best thing to keep them clean? My JRT is on JWB and Harringtons and her only treats are sardines, peanut butter (sugar free) and soft cheese in her Kongs when she goes in her 'kennel' (if I have to leave her alone). Her fronts are spotless but I found tartar on her very very back molars. She's 18 months old now.

Are dental sticks a con and would a raw bone do any good?
 
Yes raw bones.

Beef ribs are perfect for teeth cleaning as are turkey necks and chicken backs.

Dental sticks are con and have terrible ingredients. They have been causing horrible kidney issues with lots of dogs here and bowel obstructions.
 
katielou said:
Yes raw bones.

Beef ribs are perfect for teeth cleaning as are turkey necks and chicken backs.

Dental sticks are con and have terrible ingredients. They have been causing horrible kidney issues with lots of dogs here and bowel obstructions.
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They truly are awful! I use all sorts of bones, pork ribs seem very nice and any chicken bits.

Puppy said:
Mine LOVE these, and they seem to do the job :)

http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-30879-paragon-crocodile-dental-dog-chew-natural-treats-bulk.aspx
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These are lovely but maybe not as effective or cheap as bones? They seem very expensive!
 
I haven't been tempted to try dental sticks but have seen the rock hard type of thing Puppy is on about. I just wonder what's in things like that? I have seen some that say algae or seaweed or something but no other 'ingredients'.

She doesn't get treats and so far the stuffed Kongs are the highlight of her day - so much so that going in her kennel is VERY popular and she goes in whenever she can, quite voluntarily :)

I'll source some bones I think, and see how we get on. Thank you

Final Q - are the bones to replace part of her dietary allowance - i.e. do I give her slightly less kibble?
 
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Can somebody translate?
Features: · No Wheat · Gluten Free · Sugar Free · Potato Based · Highly Digestible · Plaque Control · No Meat · Low Fat, High Fiber Item Specifications: Size: Small 3”L (14 Count) Large 4.6”L (7 Count) Assorted Colors within Package: Green = Chlorophyll Orange = Annatto Brown = Natural Ingredients: wheat starch, glycerine, vegetable fibres, lecithin, natural colours / flavours Guaranteed analysis: Crude protein, min. 1.1% Crude fat, min. 2.3% Crude fat, max. 4.0% Crude fiber, max. 13.7% Moisture, max. 8.3% Ash max. 0.8%.w
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Of zero nutritional value, therefore.

Morrisons do lamb bones: some are more appropriate than others, they come in a pack, very chea. Two pigs' trotters are just over a quid, keeps my lot occupied for a while!

You could also try pigs' ears, pig belly, dried, from a pet shop, any chicken carcass or bits thereof or paddywack, which is dried tendon available in a lot of pet stores.
 
Find yourself a friendly old-fashioned butcher, ours keep us a bagful which I separate and freeze. One a week - no effect on weight but lovely white, clean teeth! Simples :D
 
Ditto that. Ask your butcher - he should give you them for free. Avoid the big leg weight bearing ones. Mine all get them once a week and it keeps their teeth in great condition. Always feed them raw, never cooked.
Mine get fed twice a day. When they get bones (usually a Friday night) I don't feed them anything else that night.
 
I can proudly boast that I have never had any of my dog's teeth cleaned - no need, they get raw fed and digestible bones, lamb, chicken, turkey and pork bones will keep them and the gums in good health.
 
Pigs trotter, wings (mine have turkey wings but are a bit bigger than JRT), beef ribs, pigs head.

Will had thick tartar when he came to me, his teeth are now stained yellow but are smooth with no tartar on them. Basically has the above bone types.
 
I bought some pork ribs and have split them and frozen them to give out one at a time. She ate it vey quickly - seems fine though. Didn't give her tea as there was quite a bit of meat with the ribs. I cut this off in case she got silly and tried to swallow it all whole, and fed it separately.

I saw trotters but when I poked them, they didn't seem terribly boney :o

What does anyone think of/know about dried tripe? The label says that's 'all' it is. Looks quite chewy.

The only thing I am bothered about is, I try to buy properly sourced meat for us and don't want to buy even bones from inhumanely treated chickens or animals. I'd better go to the local 'farm assured' chap.
 
Certain breeds suffer more with their teeth unfortunetly, my 2 terriers are in the later years now ( never had a dental scale under general anaesthetic) but when it does build up a I click it off either with my thumb or a spoon, obviously the dog needs to be good natured for this or you will lose your fingers!

Its very easy you gently place your thumbnail above the plague under the gum line and pull down, it will come off in big chunks. The gums will bleed as the area is inflammed from the gum being aggrivated from the plaque.

Saying that my terrier was quite stinky breathed the other week and was just thinking he needed it done again and he attacked a stick whilst running by the river, and totally cleaned his teeth to pearly whites!

So in short, I wouldnt bother brushing faffing around with dental stix etc, just let your dog be a dog and chew hard things and nature takes it course.


And before anyone moans that I clean my own dogs teeth, i am the lady who scales the teeth of the dogs under general in the vets, and would really recommend you have a go before submitting your dog to a GA. One of our vets clicks it off with her thumb in consults xx
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
Certain breeds suffer more with their teeth unfortunetly, my 2 terriers are in the later years now ( never had a dental scale under general anaesthetic) but when it does build up a I click it off either with my thumb or a spoon, obviously the dog needs to be good natured for this or you will lose your fingers!

Its very easy you gently place your thumbnail above the plague under the gum line and pull down, it will come off in big chunks. The gums will bleed as the area is inflammed from the gum being aggrivated from the plaque.

Saying that my terrier was quite stinky breathed the other week and was just thinking he needed it done again and he attacked a stick whilst running by the river, and totally cleaned his teeth to pearly whites!

So in short, I wouldnt bother brushing faffing around with dental stix etc, just let your dog be a dog and chew hard things and nature takes it course.


And before anyone moans that I clean my own dogs teeth, i am the lady who scales the teeth of the dogs under general in the vets, and would really recommend you have a go before submitting your dog to a GA. One of our vets clicks it off with her thumb in consults xx
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I know - I did that myself already :) Common sense, really! Just bervous about giving bones, even raw ones. Second rib being given this evening.
 
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