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Teeth cleaning

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Thanks Deb, I am going to give it a try….

  • I brush Congo's teeth and I can't use my finger to brush his teeth unless I want my fingers pinched. He is pretty good about it and I use a peanut butter flavor toothpaste and also a chicken broth flavor. I don't have to buy Denta bones and his teeth stay in pretty good shape if I brush them 2-3 times a week. It took a good month though before he would let me do it without a huge protest.

  • @tanza:

    Thanks Deb, I am going to give it a try….

    Pat, I've tried just about every product on the market and nothing has even come close to working like this stuff. We have a natural pet food/supply store in Fargo and they no longer carry any dental products other than PetzLife. They said once the word got around about this product that was all they sold while the other products sat on the shelf.

    [edit] I should also say that I use the 'Triple-headed' toothbrush also. The best invention ever!

  • I use a "human" battery powered toothbrush… no one minded it at all....

  • @nodakerdeb:

    Pat, I've tried just about every product on the market and nothing has even come close to working like this stuff. We have a natural pet food/supply store in Fargo and they no longer carry any dental products other than PetzLife. They said once the word got around about this product that was all they sold while the other products sat on the shelf. I have to thank Linda Seikert of Sinbaje Basenjis for alerting me to this fine product.

    [edit] I should also say that I use the 'Triple-headed' toothbrush also. The best invention ever!

    There was a local pet store nearby that carried PetzLife products. The employee there mentioned that he hears nothing but good things about this stuff and that they were completely out of the spray. $25-30 may seem like a lot for such a small amount of product but it's cheap insurance to keep your dogs teeth healthy.

  • I have been using Petzlife too and it really does work. My dogs like it better than tooth brushing.

  • @Kananga:

    There was a local pet store nearby that carried PetzLife products. The employee there mentioned that he hears nothing but good things about this stuff and that they were completely out of the spray. $25-30 may seem like a lot for such a small amount of product but it's cheap insurance to keep your dogs teeth healthy.

    $25 - $30 seems like pennies to me when you compare it to the cost of a full dental under anesthesia. :) I can't ever anticipate having to another dental on our Rat Terrier again, nor any dog we would get in the future. There is simply no tarter build up with this product when used daily, or even a couple of times a week.

    Jack likes the taste too. At first he wasn't nuts about it, but it didn't take long for him to acquire it. He does not like the 'spray' in his mouth though. He's always been skiddish about a spray sound. If I had a pup I'd start in with the spray from the get go so they got used to the sound.

  • I just went to order my Petzlife product (thanks for the heads up Deb!) since there wasn't a retailer close to me. Oddly, it's cheaper through Amazon than from the company's website. :confused: Still, a bit pricey, but WAAAY cheaper (in terms of money and worry) than a full dental at the vet's.

  • @nodakerdeb:

    $25 - $30 seems like pennies to me when you compare it to the cost of a full dental under anesthesia. :) I can't ever anticipate having to another dental on our Rat Terrier again, nor any dog we would get in the future. There is simply no tarter build up with this product when used daily, or even a couple of times a week.

    Jack likes the taste too. At first he wasn't nuts about it, but it didn't take long for him to acquire it. He does not like the 'spray' in his mouth though. He's always been skiddish about a spray sound. If I had a pup I'd start in with the spray from the get go so they got used to the sound.

    Simple brushing has actually broken down some of the tarter on my B's teeth. He's only 10 months old, but I've been brushing 3-5 times per week (which we all know is more than your average dog owner…. never). I figured the PetzLife gel will help break down the rest and keep his teeth/gums healthy. But yes, such a small amount compared to having him put under for cleaning. My vet wanted it done soon but I said i'd wait and see if the tarter build up got worse. It has gotten better. :D

  • That is really young to have tartar build up? 10 months?

  • @tanza:

    That is really young to have tartar build up? 10 months?

    Pat, I was thinking the same thing. I'm wondering if there is more going on there ??

    Good on the owner for being diligient about brushing though! :)

  • @tanza:

    That is really young to have tartar build up? 10 months?

    Very minimal. It's just about gone now so perhaps the previous owner (breeder) did not allow him to chew on bones all too often. I've only had him for a little over 2 months. His teeth are actually in great shape regardless of that minor spot or two on his back teeth.

  • That is good to hear… I would be concerned if there was lots of build up at that age... However, that said, there are some lines that just have horrible teeth, my OJ was one.. for his entire life.... His first dental he lost 5 teeth.... And others that are related to him have always had teeth problems too...

    I just got my order of Petzlife... Kristii was not impressed....gggg

  • i have read that, in addition to genetics, vaccination schedule (either for the pups or for mom carrying pups) can have an impact on the enammel on the teeth. which i think might impact the tartar build up.

  • I find that brushing his teeth 3-4 times per week (minimum) is enough to prevent build-up. I take dental hygiene a lot more seriously than others but mostly because I know how it can impact their health. It also can impact our sense of smell…. :)

  • @Kananga:

    I find that brushing his teeth 3-4 times per week (minimum) is enough to prevent build-up. I take dental hygiene a lot more seriously than others but mostly because I know how it can impact their health. It also can impact our sense of smell…. :)

    I'm like you Kananga– very serious about dental care because it is so much more than just the teeth that are affected. I had visions of you having to scrape tons of tarter off -- a few spots is to be expected.;)

    I'm not surprised that Nickii was not impressed with the Petzlife Pat. It's way different than the chicken flavored beige paste... LOL!

    deb

  • Exactly… Deb...

  • @tanza:

    That is good to hear… I would be concerned if there was lots of build up at that age... However, that said, there are some lines that just have horrible teeth, my OJ was one.. for his entire life.... His first dental he lost 5 teeth.... And others that are related to him have always had teeth problems too...

    I just got my order of Petzlife... Kristii was not impressed....gggg

    Pat, how is it working? Have you seen anything? I'm tempted to try some. I think it's about $14 or thereabouts through Revival and I have to order vaccines anyway.

  • My breeder told me that giving them frozen bones to gnaw on really helps keep their teeth clean (the big thick soup bones or marrow bones). I've talked to some whippet people and they all give their dogs turkey necks once or twice a week to help with the teeth cleaning.

  • @nomrbddgs:

    Pat, how is it working? Have you seen anything? I'm tempted to try some. I think it's about $14 or thereabouts through Revival and I have to order vaccines anyway.

    It only been 3 days…ggg... I will let you know if I see any difference in 2 wks... of course I am using it on a 14yr old

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    PLEASE DO NOT!!! The AMVA and the dental veterinary society says RUN from ANY VET advertising no anesthesia cleaning. PLEASE, find a vet who knows what they are doing! The teeth may LOOK cleaner, but the MEDICAL issue is below the gums! http://www.avdc.org/dentalscaling.html However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons: 1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts. 2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic. 3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages… the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration. 4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed. Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose, and continual monitoring of the patient. ) Periodontal problems affect more than 80 percent of dogs over the age of four, according to Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic veterinarian Jan Bellows. University of Penn http://www.vet.upenn.edu/RyanVHUPforSmallAnimalPatients/SpecialtyCareServices/DentistryOralSurgery/ClientInformation/tabid/814/Default.aspx#AnesthesiaFrequencyDentalCleanings Need for Anesthesia and Frequency of Professional Dental Cleanings Need for Anesthesia In order to perform a thorough periodontal examination, dental radiography, scaling and polishing, gingival curettage and root planing, the pet must be under general anesthesia. Anesthetic gas and oxygen are delivered through an endotracheal tube, thus ensuring pain-free procedures and also protecting the airways from aspirating fluids or debris. Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, anesthesia-free dentistry performed by untrained individuals is inappropriate for several reasons, including: Significant safety concerns for the patient and operator. Insufficient cleaning of inaccessible tooth surfaces. No debridement of periodontal pockets. Oral discomfort and serious pain. Accidental aspiration of debris that can result in pneumonia and death. Furthermore, it is illegal for anybody but licensed veterinarians or supervised and trained veterinary technicians to practice veterinary medicine. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dentistry and oral surgery procedures are safely performed each year. The American Veterinary Dental College adopted a position statement on companion animal dental scaling without anesthesia. Anesthesia is essential for veterinary dental procedures, to ensure that the procedure can be completed successfully. Fear of general anesthesia is a natural concern voiced by many owners when a dental procedure is recommended. However, the risk of chronic oral infection, for example, is far greater than the risk of an anesthetic complication. \ btw… have dog with CUPS, an autoimmune issue. I have to have her teeth cleaned every 3 mos. I wish I didn't know so much about it. :(