Skip to content

Teeth cleaning

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • @agilebasenji:

    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.

    I ordered mine from Amazon a couple days ago and was also a bit puzzled by the price difference. I will post on results we soon as we start using it.

  • @Kananga:

    For those of you using the gel, how do you apply it typically? I've been just taking a pea sized amount, opening Kananga's mouth and placing it on his tongue or the roof of his mouth. The website says that the dogs tongue will automatically coat the teeth. Seems tough to coat the teeth with your finger because the gel can easily slide off your finger.

    I'm not using this product (but might give it a try) but something else from my vet. It recommends patting dry the gumline and then applying to that area. It may work with this gel as well once the saliva is gone.

  • @Kananga:

    For those of you using the gel, how do you apply it typically? I've been just taking a pea sized amount, opening Kananga's mouth and placing it on his tongue or the roof of his mouth. The website says that the dogs tongue will automatically coat the teeth. Seems tough to coat the teeth with your finger because the gel can easily slide off your finger.

    I have a very, very soft tooth brush that I am using to brush the teeth and gums… since it is so soft and Kristii doesn't mind, it works well.... once I see a difference (and I have seen some) I will change to the battery tooth brush like I use for my own dental....

  • I put it on the toothbrush like toothpaste and brush away. I have been brushing my dog's teeth since he was a puppy and I'm also able to scale them (which I haven't had to do since I've been using Petzlife). I brush his teeth every day because he doesn't mind it at all. I am also able to get to all of the teeth – top and bottom and inside on the lingual side. I realize not all can do this with their dogs but I attribute it to starting the habit from day one.

    For those who can't brush their dog's teeth, why not put some on a dry guaze pad or the corner of a dry wash cloth?

    The Petzlife company does say that best results will be accomplished if used with a toothbrush though.

  • I have used a toothbrush with the gel a few times, but most time I open up his mouth and just let his tongue coat the teeth. Seems to still be effective.

  • It is always good to get your dog used to a toothbrush… and you can start with just putting the gel (or nothing at all) on your finger and rubbing over the teeth and gums...

    Getting a baby puppy is a lot more fun.. (for the puppy...ggg) they will accept pretty easy.. but "chew, chew, chew"... which is OK by me.... they get used to someone putting hands/fingers in their mouth.

    And for those of you that are considering showing... two tips... mouth exam is important.. so the more you get them used to people looking at their bite the better... and for those of your with males... used to people touching/grabbing (and some judges are NOT with soft hands) their private parts... as making sure they have two testicles is part of the judges responsibility. Those of you with pups... start now.. every day... practice showing the bite and having others look at the bite... and check for testicles..

  • @tanza:

    It is always good to get your dog used to a toothbrush… and you can start with just putting the gel (or nothing at all) on your finger and rubbing over the teeth and gums...

    Getting a baby puppy is a lot more fun.. (for the puppy...ggg) they will accept pretty easy.. but "chew, chew, chew"... which is OK by me.... they get used to someone putting hands/fingers in their mouth.

    And for those of you that are considering showing... two tips... mouth exam is important.. so the more you get them used to people looking at their bite the better... and for those of your with males... used to people touching/grabbing (and some judges are NOT with soft hands) their private parts... as making sure they have two testicles is part of the judges responsibility. Those of you with pups... start now.. every day... practice showing the bite and having others look at the bite... and check for testicles..

    Thanks Pat for this advice…another thing I didn't think about! Don't need to worry about the testicle bit for this one though :D...but I'll remember that for the future!

  • Our dogs… love the toothbrush... hahaha
    Even our cat doesn't mind it....

  • Hello all. I'm glad to see my initial post got so many people talking! I am definitely going to get some of these PetzLife products. Anyway, I just wanted to post a follow-up. We took Deedle to the new vet and really like the place. Today she went in for her teeth cleaning, and, ahem, remember how I was saying I wanted to go to the new vet because I thought it might be a little cheaper than the other place? Well, forget that!

    Deedle is 13 now and starting to show it. We had them do some X-rays on her abdomen because she has been throwing up every morning for the past month, and then they moved on to the teeth. They had to extract SEVEN teeth! I felt like a terrible basenji mom, but really, she has had teeth problems for a long time. I just didn't realize how bad they were. The vet called me numerous times to check in and explain everything to me. When we went to pick her up, they showed us all the X-rays and gave us additional information. It ended up costing almost $1,500. She was under anesthesia for nearly 3 hours! So, what can you do. I just want Deedle to be healthy and comfortable.

  • You did the right thing… and some dogs just have bad teeth... just like people... and you will see a great difference in her in a few days... been there, done that.... and don't feel bad... Basenji bitches are known for "hiding" pain... mine do.....

  • What I'd really like to know… is WHERE did you take Deedle to begin with??
    There is NO reason anesthesia, cleaning and any extractions should come to half of hat you quoted.

    Where is the new vet you are considering?
    What part of town are you in?

    I could give you numerous recommedations that have a multitude of basenji experience without raping your wallet.

  • Unfortunately, on some dogs, I wouldn't even want to think about no anesthetic with teeth cleaning. My old girl Calli has severly bad gingivitis, two cracked molars, crud caked on, and a heart murmur. Which is why I opted for this product first. I will do my best to clean it up without taking her in. Even though she is not a basenji, I don't want to chance it. However, with her if I had to it would be anethetic all the way. While I can take anything out of her mouth, other people may not be able to. It really depends on the temperment of the dog as well. Especially if they are in pain. Just MO.

  • @khanis:

    What I'd really like to know… is WHERE did you take Deedle to begin with??
    There is NO reason anesthesia, cleaning and any extractions should come to half of hat you quoted.

    Where is the new vet you are considering?
    What part of town are you in?

    I could give you numerous recommedations that have a multitude of basenji experience without raping your wallet.

    In response to Kathy's comments, the first vet we went to was Hollywood Pet Hospital. Their prices seemed a little higher than others, I figured because they are an AAHA accredited hospital. The new vet is Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care on Belmont St in SE Portland. It's close to our house, and they were very attentive and very nice. It still cost us a pretty penny, but it included full X-rays of her mouth, X-rays of her abdomen, anesthesia for 3 hours, and 7 extractions!

    Deedle seems back to her old self now, but we're feeding her soft food for 5 days, and it seems to be giving her horrible gas! I am choosing to be amused by it, but she is stinking up the whole house!

  • Well I tried the Petlife gel and The dogs will not let me get near them with it.

    Or Tri when I came close to him with it he made the most awful face, showing his teeth, but not threatening but more like Ewwww. Then he drop to the ground and started rubbing his paws with his nose trying to get the smell out.

    He has a similar reaction to bananas.

    They let me brush their teeth, which they enjoy, so back to brushing.

  • Hey barkless, I wanted to try this product. If you're stuck with an almost full bottle that you have no need for, and you feel it's safe to share, get my email from admin and give me a yell. I'll take it off your hands and compensate you for the product and shipping.

  • Sure.

    Someone Hook us up!

    This stuff has a strong almost rubbing alcohol like odor.

  • Funny, my 14+ yr old didn't mind it in the least….but we all know that B's are different... gggg. I have not found that about the product... now the spray on that other hand.. it does have the alcohol odor... Kristii is not thrilled with that.. but I can still use it

  • I wanted to bump this thread…

    I've been using the regular flavour Petzlife gel on Ruby (4yo) now for 2 weeks (3x a week, per the bottle) and I cannot believe the difference in her teeth and her breath. Her breath changed within the first 2 times of using it. I fully expect that if it keeps working the way it has, that in another 2 weeks there will be no sign of plaque at all. Her teeth were starting to look not so good, but this stuff has changed that! I cannot believe it works this great!

    Count me in as someone that now swears by this product.

    BTW, I was in a store in a pet store in New Jersey and found it for $20! What a deal!

  • Definately worth getting a second vet to look and give you a price. I looked around when Benji needed his teeth doing and managed to find a vet quite a bit cheaper and most importantly a good vet.
    I know what you mean about the bad breath, Benjis could strip paint, lol.
    Seriously though it is most unpleasant. Can anyone tell me why it is that smaller Dogs tend to get tooth problems? Our big Dog has wonderfull teeth at the age of 11.

  • @moetmum:

    We have started using it today!! Mainly Fiji who is having gel and spray (much to her disgust) and my three youngsters are just having the spray as maintenance.

    Hi Moetmum. Not seen you on here for a while. I was wondering where you purchase the Petzlife from in the UK as Nakura's breath smells like something has died inside her and I'd love to give something new a try. :)

Suggested Topics

  • Teeth cleaning for senior pooch

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    10k Views
    P
    No magic then, Debra? Paying a vet for what we can do at home! Or am I being too cynical?
  • New pups and clean teeth

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    3k Views
    NerdyDogOwnerN
    Hm, never noticed the human version. Hope I can get it here….which I kinda expect since it's "harvested from the seas of Norway"....lol If it helps me as much as Gizmo I will be in shock and joy! What I don't understand is it's in tablet form....how can it help teeth if you swallow it whole? Says it works through your blood stream....eh...okay... Looks like I might have unwittingly given clean teeth for the dogs and humans here....haha!
  • Teeth… What age?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    7k Views
    renaultf1R
    @Benkura: Puppy teeth are lovely but it is a relief when all the little 'needles' go. :) Ain't that the truth! :D:D
  • Teething

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    Frozen carrots work well also. But usually teething is not a big deal for pups
  • Baby Teeth

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    -1 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    @Solomon: I will wait, for a few more weeks, I am going to take him in to have id chip installed and will discuss with my vet. I gues I am just looking forward to have that part of puppy-hood behind us. He is a very normal basenji!!! Thanks for all of the advice! Glenn Certainly you are no different to us.. we are ALL happy when those puppy "needle" teeth finally disappear!:)
  • Teeth brushing

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    85
    0 Votes
    85 Posts
    27k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    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. :(