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Teeth cleaning

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • lvossL

    I agree the Petzlife does make a big difference.

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  • KanangaK

    This has been my routine lately:

    Petzlife gel- 3x/week
    Brushing with enzymatic toothpaste- 2x/week

    It's honestly amazing how quickly the tarter comes off after using the Petzlife gel. It loosens everything up so that when you brush, 90% of it comes right off. I should have taken some before and after photos. I couldn't believe how well it works sometimes.

    The bonus part of the gel is that it kills bad breath. I put a small tab of it on my index finger and wipe it on the roof of Kananga's mouth. His tongue coats his teeth and preps it for when he gets his teeth brushed. So far, he has very minimal tarter, if any at this point. I know my vet mentioned his teeth were in great shape last time he had his comprehensive exam. I bought the petzlife gel a few months ago and have not needed to purchase another container yet. It sure does last awhile, so don't get turned off by the high price tag.

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  • proteinmanP

    Great thread.

    Thanks for the tips about Petzlife Oral gel, we will give it a try. We've been using ProDen Plaque Off in Leo's food and enzymatic toothpaste. Any tool to help prevent extractions and heart issues is a big thing.

    Thanks again

    " I've never met a person who owns a Basenji"

    If this is your quote, let me know, since I have probably stolen it!

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  • KanangaK

    I still have the first bottle I purchased of Petzlife. I'm amazed how long one bottle lasts. Totally makes up for the higher price.

    I usually brush kananga's teeth about once or twice a week. I wish I could do it more often, but it seems like this is working out very well. I use the petlife gel when I don't brush his teeth, but usually limited to 3 or 4 times per week.

    I was checking over his teeth tonight, little to no tarter. He has a couple spots of very tiny amounts of tarter on his two back teeth. I'll try to focus on those in the future, but his front teeth are just brilliant white. The gums look very healthy and his breath is reasonable. I've gotta admit this Petzlife Gel is fantastic stuff.

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  • Rita JeanR

    What is Petzlife Gel and were did you get it??

    Rita Jean

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  • N

    This thread is huge! I can't even follow it all..
    My B is almost 2 years old and has no tartar build up and usually pretty good smelling breath. I clean her teeth (with a brush) usually once or twice a week. She has lots of bones and things as well.

    When should I expect to have to get her teeth cleaned? What if I take care of her teeth well for the rest of her life, should I ever have to expect to get this done? Seems like a lot of money but definitely something I am willing to do if she needs it. Right now, the vet said her mouth looks very healthy and clean.

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  • KanangaK

    @Rita:

    What is Petzlife Gel and were did you get it??

    Rita Jean

    http://www.petzlife.com/item/Petzlife-Gel

    You can order it directly or find a local store that carries it. I was fortunate enough to find it at the place I go to for Kananga's food.

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  • KanangaK

    @NullaBasenji:

    This thread is huge! I can't even follow it all..
    My B is almost 2 years old and has no tartar build up and usually pretty good smelling breath. I clean her teeth (with a brush) usually once or twice a week. She has lots of bones and things as well.

    When should I expect to have to get her teeth cleaned? What if I take care of her teeth well for the rest of her life, should I ever have to expect to get this done? Seems like a lot of money but definitely something I am willing to do if she needs it. Right now, the vet said her mouth looks very healthy and clean.

    I would think it's only necessary if there were dental issues such as significant tarter build up.

    To be 100% honest, I would try this dental gel before anything else, but it seems like your B's dental hygiene is nothing to be concerned about.

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  • Rita JeanR

    Thank you I will see if any of stores carry it here. If not I will have to order it.

    Rita Jean

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  • renaultf1R

    Rita, PetEdge carries it now.

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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. :(