I have a 6 year old male Beagle. The vet thinks he should get his teeth cleaned due to the start of gingivitis. He eats dry Science Diet food. I vary his treats but they are all hard (Milk Bones, Dental Bone, and Greenies (not all in the same day :) ). I brush his teeth but not as often as I should. I really don't want to get his teeth cleaned since he has to go under and it doesn't seem worth the risk. I'm thinking a more frequent brushing will help eliminate the ginigivitis. Are there other vet cleansing options that don't require the pooch to be put under. Any advice would be great.
It seems the vet teeth cleaning seems overrated. Growing up my family had a Daschund and he lived to be 16, ate soft food and never had his teeth cleaned. My family currently has another Daschund, currently 14 years old, and again no teeth cleaning.
Thanks
MW
2007-06-27 02:33:24 · 6 answers · asked by The Beagle 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
All 3 of my greyhounds have had their teeth cleaned several times, so I know it's safe. All sighthounds are extremely sensitive to anesthetic so I was nervous about that at first, too, but anesthetics are so very much safer now than they used to be, and I trust the vet I have, so they get it done.
I've also had breeds that lived to a good age and never needed their teeth cleaned, but some dogs just don't have very good teeth (and greyhounds as a rule don't). Your vet muset have told you that gingivitis, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems - like kidney and heart problems.
If this was my dog, I'd get his teeth cleaned, and then brush them more religiously so it wouldn't have to be done again. Good luck!
2007-06-27 02:40:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whenever an animal is anesthetized, there are risks. But the risks are very minimal.
It is best to get a blood profile done before anesthesia to make sure there are no existing conditions that may complicate your pet being anesthetized. ie; kidney problems, infection, liver problems, etc.
Running a blood profile helps your vet determine the health of your pet.
You mention that dental cleaning for pet is overrated. There are health risks when teeth are not properly taken care of, just like in people. An unhealthy mouth can lead to infections and even heart problems. Bacteria enters the bloodstream and can effect the internal organs.
2007-06-27 09:50:50 · answer #2 · answered by Hell No 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
www.rawmeatybones.com
www.rawfed.com/myths
www.rawlearning.com
All of my dogs were beginning to get tartar buildup at 1, 2, and 2 yrs. old... I started them on a raw prey model diet that is 80% meat, 10% edible bone, and 10% organ meat... and now they all have really white teeth. The 2 that were over 2 when I started appear to have a slight amount of staining, but the 1 year old looks like they will be perfectly white forever now. The others don't have any more tartar, etc... just stains from the tartar they had before I switched.
Good luck, and I'd do whatever I had to do to keep from needlessly putting my dog to sleep to have it's teeth cleaned...
Consider the raw diet, if you switch.... you will be glad you did.
2007-06-27 09:41:05 · answer #3 · answered by Jocelyn7777 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vet cleaning is perfectly safe. However if you do not want the vet to do it then you better start cleaning his teeth every other day to reduce gingivitis....
Treats do not clean his teeth... that is a common misconception...
2007-06-27 09:39:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
follow vets advice you want him to still have teeth at 8
2007-07-01 06:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by cheri h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, make sure it's done by a trained professional.
2007-06-27 09:40:55 · answer #6 · answered by Jenny A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋