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Post by orpheous87 on Jan 9, 2017 0:53:22 GMT
When is the best time to brush your dog's teeth?? Kediler ve KöpeklerI've been brushing Pepper & Ellie's teeth once they've finished eating, but I don't know if this is the best time to do it. The vet advised not to rely on the tooth gel that I had been using for Pepper, especially, because her teeth are quite bad since she stopped being able to have bones to chew. So I've been using Vet's Choice toothpaste, although I will be getting some of Dorwest's roast dinner toothpaste as I've read good reviews about that one and the Vet's Choice doesn't actually seem to be doing anything. |
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Post by caz2golden on Jan 9, 2017 12:40:41 GMT
Good question, no idea!
With humans you are not suppose to clean your teeth within 1/2 hr of eating as acidic foods as it can affect the tooth enamel, but as dogs are just well different to us those kind of guides are probably not applicable. Makes logical sense to clean after eating as then you are getting rid of any tiny bits of food that perhaps are still hanging around the teeth!
My dogs teeth really vary, one week they can look quite bad the next they look ok! Would love to know what helps and what does not within their diet!
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Post by alfiemummy on Jan 9, 2017 15:01:18 GMT
Whenever I brush Alfie's teeth, I tend to do it later in the evening - I don't do it too soon after eating as I don't want bits of food clogging up the brush, and its also easier to do them when he's a bit more settled and sleepy.
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Post by barley on Jan 9, 2017 19:46:59 GMT
I'm trying to make a real effort to do Alfie's every day now, the back ones have got quite gunked up lately. I tend to do them an hour or so after his dinner so most of the kibble mush is gone, and there's a few hours for the enzymes to work their magic before he next eats.
I'm using the Arm & Hammer paste at the moment but not sure it's making much difference. I want to try one of those dental scrapers - has anyone used one?
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Post by alfiemummy on Jan 9, 2017 19:56:25 GMT
I've used a dental scraper before, it worked a treat. Just obviously have to be very careful and have a very patient dog.
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Post by barley on Jan 9, 2017 20:06:54 GMT
There are some fairly cheap ones on Amazon so I might order one and give it a go. I'm not sure how he'd take to it but he's usually tolerate so we will see!
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Post by caz2golden on Jan 9, 2017 20:17:07 GMT
I'm trying to make a real effort to do Alfie's every day now, the back ones have got quite gunked up lately. I tend to do them an hour or so after his dinner so most of the kibble mush is gone, and there's a few hours for the enzymes to work their magic before he next eats. I'm using the Arm & Hammer paste at the moment but not sure it's making much difference. I want to try one of those dental scrapers - has anyone used one?What type of scraper do you mean? I am just interested as to if it is something mine might tolerate. |
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Post by barley on Jan 9, 2017 20:20:37 GMT
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Post by orpheous87 on Jan 9, 2017 23:08:03 GMT
Glad I asked the question, even if no-one really knows lol.
I don't think either Pepper or Ellie will tolerate the scraper, although I would love to give it a go because their teeth really are bad at the moment. Ellie's are looking a bit better than Pepper's though.
I'm currently attacking the plaque through various means - they're both getting Fragaria before they eat (although again I don't know if this is the ideal time to give it), they get CSJ seaweed & parsley in their food, and then get their teeth brushed afterwards. I'm hoping that I can make some kind of difference without resorting to booking them in for a scale & polish!
I've also run out of the toothpaste and now am debating using the Tropiclean gel until I can get some of the Dorwest toothpaste. I believe that I can brush with it, even though it states that no brushing is required.
Another question is, what kind of toothbrush is better? A finger brush or a regular toothbrush? I have both and have been using the regular brush.
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Post by alfiemummy on Jan 9, 2017 23:30:06 GMT
What type of Fragaria are you giving, the Dorwest tablets? I used those for Alfie (no noticable difference unfortunately), and I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that you should leave it at least an hour before or after feeding - don't quote me on that though as I can't remember! (sorry, I'm not very helpful!)
I used to have a gel (not tropiclean but similar) that stated you didn't need to brush, I used it like a toothpaste anyway, surely it's not going to hurt?
I use various kinds of brushes but don't really know which is actually the best for cleaning teeth. I prefer the finger brush for ease of use, but always rotate which one I use as I think that maybe some would clean better than others and at least that way I hopefully cover all bases.
Are bones completely out of the question after the turkey neck incident?
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Post by caz2golden on Jan 10, 2017 9:21:33 GMT
I found after a while with my two when I used the CSJ seaweed and parsley the effects seemed to wain.  Side note: You just made me clock something. I have been giving easy greens and dog greens at 1/2 doses a few times a week of late. Girls teeth look good at the moment, just clocked one contains parsley the other algae and kelp!! Maybe that explains it!  |
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Post by orpheous87 on Jan 10, 2017 21:21:27 GMT
Yes alfiemummy, the Dorwest ones. The only problem with them is the fact there's no actual usage instructions on the vial or the website! So I'm just giving before they eat lol. It's so hard to try and do things properly! The vet checked Pepper's teeth in December when she had her health check and said she thought it would be better to use a brush and toothpaste (instead of the gel) because of the scale of the problem on her teeth and that she'd benefit from something abrasive being used. Which I tend to agree with. Unfortunately, yes, at least for Pepper. She can't always cope with big bits of food now and will bring food back up if she's had something a bit chunky/more solid than mince. Ellie will get bones again. I'm going to give them both a chew on a frozen venison neck I think to see if that will help. If I can get rid of the build up, then hopefully I can maintain good dental health with daily brushing! I think Pepper will cope with a frozen venison neck as she'll have to gnaw at it rather than bit through it. Haha caz2golden at least you're seeing some benefit! |
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Post by alfiemummy on Jan 10, 2017 21:48:35 GMT
Yes alfiemummy , the Dorwest ones. The only problem with them is the fact there's no actual usage instructions on the vial or the website! So I'm just giving before they eat lol. It's so hard to try and do things properly! The vet checked Pepper's teeth in December when she had her health check and said she thought it would be better to use a brush and toothpaste (instead of the gel) because of the scale of the problem on her teeth and that she'd benefit from something abrasive being used. Which I tend to agree with. Unfortunately, yes, at least for Pepper. She can't always cope with big bits of food now and will bring food back up if she's had something a bit chunky/more solid than mince. Ellie will get bones again. I'm going to give them both a chew on a frozen venison neck I think to see if that will help. If I can get rid of the build up, then hopefully I can maintain good dental health with daily brushing! I think Pepper will cope with a frozen venison neck as she'll have to gnaw at it rather than bit through it. Haha caz2golden at least you're seeing some benefit! That was the issue I had! It's so annoying I can't remember where I read it, but I guess if it's not from the actual manufacturers instructions then I don't know how much truth is in it anyway! I'm sure if it mattered about when you gave it in relation to feeding it would probably have said so? That's a shame  I was going to suggest giving a big bone as that will probably help. I have trouble doing that with Alfie - if it's food he just tries to eat it all up rather than having a chew on it. And the bones that are an appropriate meal size for him don't take him very long to eat so we don't get much teeth cleaning action lol |
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Post by orpheous87 on Jan 10, 2017 21:54:41 GMT
Well you would think so wouldn't you? I know you're not meant to touch them, which is definitely an issue I've had in the past although both of them are now opening their mouths much easier. I'll just keep going with them I think. I've probably been giving them for a bit too long although I'm not sure you can overdose.
I know. The bone incident is the main reason their teeth are as bad as they are! Before they were getting bones regularly which kept their back teeth lovely and clean. Giving bones frozen definitely helps with making them gnaw on them rather than biting straight through. The frozen lamb necks I got from Natural Instinct are how their teeth got cleaned in the first place!
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Post by barley on Jan 11, 2017 17:36:29 GMT
I was speaking to my boss about the dental scrapers today and she said she'd brought some for her dog but she wouldn't tolerate them, so that was handy  Brought them home and may have a go later. I use the double ended brushes and find the small end is perfect to do Alfie's back teeth. Do you guys give any specific chews for dental health? I'm still such a whimp with Alfie chewing things. He gets pizzle & cow ears and also the Farmfood rawhide braids (as they're not made in China). I hold the end whilst he chews and I guess they do something but not much. Just ordered some Fish4Dogs jerky twists as they're low enough fat and hoping they'll be rough/crunchier enough to help a bit. I used to give him the Plaqaid water additive and I really think that helped but I stopped it when the excessive drinking started, bit nervous of using it again as so paranoid about everything now as we still don't know what caused the damage. Going to take some pics of his teeth so I can diary if there's any improvement. |
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Side note: You just made me clock something. I have been giving easy greens and dog greens at 1/2 doses a few times a week of late. Girls teeth look good at the moment, just clocked one contains parsley the other algae and kelp!! Maybe that explains it! 
