Dental cleaning

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

When did your doodle have his/her first dental cleaning (surgery)? My vet recommends one every year, but it's about $400 (assuming no extractions) so I'm not sure if it's very necessary for a 1 year old doodle. Noah has such beautiful white teeth though, and I want to make sure they stay that way. I have noticed a small amount of tarter build up on one of his molars.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Yes, I want to avoid professional cleaning at all costs. For me, I am not comfortable giving him greenies because they are not fully digestible.  My vet has in her office a jar that has a few greenies in it that she had to do surgery on because they caused obstructions

 

He has raw bone marrow bones for him to chew on. I think I am going to actually! going to have to find a product that I can apply to myself because he is a fussy eater and not a big chewer.

 

Thanks so much. Keep the ideas coming..

[Jennifer and Jack]

Well, I am a month into this twice a day brushing his teeth as well as the dental rinse applied with a sponge and straw. I chose Dr Foster and Smith. I use two different types of their tooth brushes, and two different types of tooth paste as well as the rinse.

 

He has been a great trooper about really letting me get in there and get his teeth brushed. Unfortunately, the only progress I have seen is on the two front canine teeth. His back molars are a mess.

 

I have also bought him the bone tooth brush that you put the tooth paste on, he won't touch it. He has cow bones, shank bones, bully sticks, VET treats, rope treats with tooth paste spray on them. nothing is working, He is two.

 

I don't know what to do. Do I just go ahead and get them cleaned ? I would look into places that did not put them to sleep to do it,  and get a fresh start and stay on top of it, or do I just keep at it for another few months?

I do notice his breath is better. I am frustrated because I have tried everything I know to do, The only thing I can think of left if to actually buy a human dental tool and scrape it myself. I would hate to hurt him and also I know that if I scrape his gums I can make the tarter that has infection on it get into his blood stream. At least I think I can. I know with me, I have to be pre medicated with antibiotics before I get my teeth cleaned.

 

Any ideas or magic wands?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have just ordered PetzLife gel. My vet says she has a couple of people who say it's done a good job re: tartar but I really don't know. The ingredients sound harmless enough. We'll see. I think it would be very hard to get a good cleaning without anesthesia and it seems too much intervention to do unless absolutely necessary.

[Adina P]

From what I've heard they really can't do a deep cleaning without anesthesia.  Clark used to scrape Cass' teeth--she was great about it.  The only thing our vet warned us about is that when you do home scraping you leave scratches that aren't visible to you.  Whereas at the vet the teeth would be buffed to remove scratches and such.  I have never had any of our dogs' teeth professionally cleaned.  I have considered it but we'll see.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I just ordered the petzlife, Thanks so much!! Someone else had recommended that brand to me as well but so was the Foster and Smith so you just never know what to do.

 

Maybe I am just being to much OCD, I mean how is one to determine how much tarter is okay for a dog. I just think at two years old, all the major molars in his mouth should not have tarter.

 

Adina I thought the same thing about making scratches on Jack's teeth sticking my hands in there with a utensil I have no idea really how to use. I will try this Petzlife.

We go back to the vet in four more weeks to have his anal glands looked at again to make sure they are okay, and I will see what she says.

 

Thanks again.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack is 6 years old and is having his teeth cleaned next week. He has pretty bad tartar, and it's causing problems with his gums in some places.

Since he once stood cooperatively for the surgical removal of a growth with only local anesthetic, I thought it might be possible for them to clean his teeth while he was awake. They said it was not. For one thing, they use an ultra-sonic instrument that makes a noise that is supposedly very painful and/or disturbing to dogs. His vet tech took him back and tried removing some of the tartar with a dental instrument, but she could not get enough of it off, and his gum started bleeding. Looks like anesthetic is the only way to go.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Wouldn't Jane be surprised that her discussion has been resurrected? I'm hoping all is well with her. BTW, tartar buildup is largely an individual thing hang to do with the composition of saliva in part, at least according to my dentist.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Our doodles are 4.5 and the vet has suggested that Kirby get his teeth cleaned within the next year.  He definitely has tarter on some of his teeth so I think it's probably a good idea.  I have started trying to brush his teeth but I think it's probably too late to avoid a cleaning.

Dexter's teeth are fine.  I think it has to be genetics because we feed them the same food/treats.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I firmly believe that it's mainly genetics. My miniature poodle (a breed generally known for lousy teeth) lived to 16 without ever once having her teeth cleaned or even brushed, and they were tartar free, with healthy, firm pink gums her entire life. The vets were amazed. She ate dry kibble all her life. She was a huge chewer, though, always gnawing on marrow bones and braided chews, and I think that helped a lot. But I think her genetics (she was sired by the #1 ranked miniature poodle in North America) is what really made the difference.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Calla is the major chewer here but the vet just said she has tartar at two and a little gingivitis. Which is why I'll try the PetzLife. I did see a new vet in my old vet's office since I had to get the dogs knees checked to avoid a 6 month waiting period for the new pet insurance. Once the vet sat on the scale, low to the floor, and allowed the dogs to lick her face I knew she'd be OK. I think I needed to get some reassurance that we had a vet with whom I felt comfortable too.

[Kyoko]

I am curious to see if Petzlife is working? Charlie has some tartar build up and I would be interested in doing something about it.... ( Brushing teeth does not seem to help much... Well, I am not consistent, either...) Some of the review stated some concerns in regard to the product containing alcohol... What do you think about it?

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

Petzlife is working wonderful for jack. We went from needing a dental cleaning soon to a Grade A on his teeth last check up. I apply it with a tooth brush instead of the sponge. I also had my friend at the pet store take a dental tool and pop off a loose piece of tarter on each tooth, You can not scrape their teeth yourself because it can scratch the teeth.

 

I love the product! Jack is not a big chewer, so I need to brush his teeth but I went from twice a day to once a week now and we are doing great.