Food Stuck, Is This a Basenji Thing?

[tasha]

Corky always has food stuck between his cheeks and his teeth in the back of his mouth after he eats. Is this a basenji thing? It's so frustrating for him sometimes because he tries to remove it himself and it's not easy or comfortable.

[Basenji_Boy]

@tasha:

Corky always has food stuck between his cheeks and his teeth in the back of his mouth after he eats. Is this a basenji thing? It's so frustrating for him sometimes because he tries to remove it himself and it's not easy or comfortable.

I have one that does that. I'll see her looking like she's still chewing her dinner long after the fact. I usually reach in and sure enough a kibble lodged in between the cheek and gum.
Whether it's a Basenji thing or not I can't say.

A few of my B's lick each others teeth after dinner….....I know........ gross.:D

[tanza]

I have not seen this in any of my Basenjis… what kind of food are you feeding?

[tasha]

I feed him Innova Evo. He also did this with Bil Jack and Purina One.

[Basenji_Boy]

@tanza:

I have not seen this in any of my Basenjis… what kind of food are you feeding?

Royal Canin Sensible Choice Natural Blend Adult

[tanza]

Do you feed is dry or mixed with something?… could just be the kibble pieces get caught between the teeth and gums.. or if mixed with wet, it could be just adhered to the tooth...(good reason for brushing).....

[tasha]

It's all kibble and it's never actual pieces of kibble. It gets stuck after he chews.

[JazzysMom]

I've never seen it with Jazzy or Keoki…or any other dog for that matter.

Just curious... how's their breath?

[tasha]

His breath is fine. The food gets cleaned out. His teeth seem fine too.

[hdterry]

That is interesting…I have never noticed this with Jojo after she eats but lately she is VERY picky at what she eats...if it is human food, she wants it...if it is treats she wants it...if it is her dog food, she doesn't want it...good luck!!

[Quercus]

@JazzysMom:

I've never seen it with Jazzy or Keoki…or any other dog for that matter.

Just curious... how's their breath?

FTR, I have never seen a Basenji do this either. But I have seen a few dogs that have long hair around their mouth act kind of like this…where they are trying to clear the hair out of their mouths?

[tanza]

@hdterry:

That is interesting…I have never noticed this with Jojo after she eats but lately she is VERY picky at what she eats...if it is human food, she wants it...if it is treats she wants it...if it is her dog food, she doesn't want it...good luck!!

Just remember, when they are hungry they will eat what is given to them….ggg

[BillyK]

Ever try to take a piece of unaceptable "food" from your dog and find that as you open her mouth the food (or cat box bisquit!) doesn't fall out - no matter how wide you pry? I always find it in the back as described above. The basenji cheeks seem to cover more of the back teeth than I've seen on other dogs. Maybe this is a survival adaptation from their closeness to the wild, a way to hide food from the competition.

[tasha]

@BillyK:

Ever try to take a piece of unaceptable "food" from your dog and find that as you open her mouth the food (or cat box bisquit!) doesn't fall out - no matter how wide you pry? I always find it in the back as described above. The basenji cheeks seem to cover more of the back teeth than I've seen on other dogs. Maybe this is a survival adaptation from their closeness to the wild, a way to hide food from the competition.

Interesting thought. Makes total sense to me.

Well it sound like this is a Corky thing. Thanks everyone!!!!

[tanza]

Worst than that, every try giving them something they don't want??? Like a pill?… and thinking they did swallow it and find it on the floor hours later?..ggg... even when you were positive that they did swallow?... I have that now with my Maggii who at 15 1/2+ is in semi renal failure... she gets a anti acid pill once a day and 1/2 of a pill to control an ongoing cough (again due to age and her kidneys)... while the anti acid is not bad the cough pill is a real bear to give. She used to be really easy to pill when she had a good appetite and would eat anything especially hidden in goodies... but since her renal failure she doesn't eat very well at all... so I have to pill her... and let me tell you, her teeth are still SHARP and STRONG!!!! But I forgive her...

[Mantis]

Caesar started doing this around 4yrs old, or I started noticing it then….the chewing licking air after dinner for a while?

I massage his jaw at the back and it loosens the food. He was officially ready for a teeth cleaning (big bucks) at age 5 and probably had that problem all of his life. Teeth were all fine.

Now, after dinner, he comes to me to rub the back area of his jaw to get the food out. He must feel a real difference now that his teeth are clean. I dont ever stick my fingers inside his mouth, just rub the outside and it is good enough.

I feed Caesar Innova Evo and Natural Balance Duck and Potato back and forth.