I Can't Believe I'm Asking This...

[Camilla and Darwin]

But how bad is it to give Darwin dental chews, prescribed by the vet? I realize any question that involves vet and prescribed food is answered the same way. But this could possibly be different.

 

See, he has really bad tartar and they've been warning us that he will need a dental cleaning soon. I have looked at his mouth myself and he has tartar all over his back molars, and breath that could kill. I would like to avoid a cleaning for as long as possible, if we can.

 

I do have a toothpaste and toothbrush, but when I use it I feel like the toothpaste isn't coating enough of the teeth. Either way it hasn't been helping enough. We give him raw carrots but really this makes no difference either. Well, Darwin is a hefty chewer and the vet tech thought these chews might be a good option, as they are soaked in the same enzyme as the toothpaste. I looked at the ingredients and they don't seem great, but I have only learned to analyze dog food and treats thus far. In addition, the ingredients to dog toothpaste never seem that great, but it's still used.

 

Thoughts? Is it a good idea? Bad idea? 

 

T/CL Dental Chews by "GlenHaven"

 

Beefhide, *Dextrose, poultry digest, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, primary dried yeast, potassium sorbate, glucose oxidase (aspergillus niger), dried whey protein concentrate

* a substance necessary for the antiseptic enzyme system.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

GREAT PRICE.  Lucky you!

Tacky's last cleaning was $400, but that included two rounds of bloodwork (kidneys). 

 

Peri,on the other hand, just has better teeth- would you believe she brings us her antler for us to hold and she rotates chewing on sides and gets it all the way to the back molars - it's like she has a nightly cleaning. But she brings it to us when she is ready so she has more leverage. This only lasts about 5 minutes each night and then she goes back to holding it between her paws (or in a shoe!) on the rug.

[Kim]

lol, in a shoe!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My guys each get one dental chew a day.  I give them C.E.T. Hextra made by Virbac, which I get from the Vet (although I believe you can get them online).  They seem to work really well....they have no tartar.  With these chews I don't have to brush as often.  The chews contain Chlorhexidine which is used in some human mouthwash for tartar control.  I always supervise them with these chews to be sure they don't break off a piece and choke.  They absolutely love them....it's the highlight of their day.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jack has bad tarter on his teeth.. He is not a chewer at all and I won't let him have rawhide because I am afraid of obstruction. The cost is a factor for me slightly, I do have insurance, but like Karen, I do not want Jack put to sleep just to have his teeth cleaned.

 

Petzlife is a product that was recommended to me on here. It was a bit pricey if I remember correctly. It really did do a good job. I went from needing to almost get his teeth cleaned to getting an A on his last check up. I since have slacked, I can tell I am slacking because as I am typing this, Jack with his hot smelly breath is breathing on me.

 

I think more then anything it is the actual friction that helps prevent the tarter from build up such as using the brush. I would try the Petzlife to use to soften up what is already there, it did work for us.

 

If you use that product they can not eat or drink for 30 minutes before of after, Jack hates getting his teeth brushed but he is more tolerant of it now

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

So after reading through this post my brain is numb from all the chemistry talk lol. I'm wondering what is the verdict? Now that Sophie's grown up teeth are all in I want to make sure they stay fabulously white and clean. She has an antler that she chews regularly. Is that enough for now? It would be great to create a list of good teeth cleaning chews, just like there's a list of good food.