Paz Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Our dog is close to 13 and she has a good amount of plaque build up on her teeth. We have had them professionally cleaned in the past but her lungs don't seem as strong as they used to so we are concerned about putting her under for the procedure. Have any of you found natural products that help with cleaner teeth. This would be after the fact, once a good amount of plaque is present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 I am friends with a reputable collie breeder who puts 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of water, and that is all her dogs drink. It supposedly softens the plaque so it can be brushed off. I don't know how long the dog has to drink the vinegar water before it starts working. The dogs have no problem drinking the water, btw. She also brushes their teeth every day and scales them herself using dental tools. She has dogs ranging from 6 months old to 14 years old. I haven't tried the vinegar water idea because my dog still has white teeth, so I have no idea whether this works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 We have the same problem with our almost 14 year old dog. Unfortunately, he won't let us anywhere near his teeth. The vet says they don't want to put him under, so... I did get some stuff from the health food store that I put in their water every day that's supposed to help break down the plaque. I'm not sure if it's working (again, he won't let us get near his teeth), but his breath isn't quite so heinous, so maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 There is also something called "Greenies." It's available for dogs and cats and is supposed to scrub their teeth while they are chewing on it. It is like a bone for dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphus Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 I'm watching this, our nearly 13 year old dog is too fragile for teeth cleaning, but...ugh. Tried greenies, she is a lab and she just eats them straight away, negating the teeth cleaning effect. We can and do brush her teeth (we wipe them with gauze, actually) but her breath is sooo terrible. The vet her teeth aren't bad enough to risk anesthetic just for that, so we are stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Well . . . many people will tell you to feed some raw bones like turkey necks. They're supposedly nature's toothbrush for dogs. But of course they're not w/o concerns. I'm not totally against raw feeding, but neither have I jumped on the band wagon. And I'd personally think long and hard before starting an older dog on raw bones for the first time. I thought I'd mention it in case you want to research it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 Antlers are less likely to splinter than bones and are good for allowing the dogs to scrape the plaque off their own teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 It sounds like you really want to do the right thing for your aging dog, so I am going to be blunt: There is nothing you can do until they are professionally cleaned. If your vet tells you that it is unsafe to put him under, then find a better vet. Honestly. Ask around, go to a dental specialist, or simply find a more competent veterinarian. If the dog has significant dental disease, he is in significant pain. He needs the sources of pain removed. Anesthesia can be done safely in compromised pets. It is worth the risk. Would you accept a 1% chance of death during the procedure to get a chance at a year or two of pain-free, happy life? VS no anesthesia, but a 100% chance that his remaining (likely shorter) life will be in constant pain? Rotten, decaying, fractured, infected teeth are completely common in elderly animals. Getting them cleaned up, broken and rotten ones removed, sources of pain and inflammation resolved, is one of the most satisfying things dh does as a vet. It is the procedure that they get the most enthusiastic and positive feedback from clients, even if they've just spent $1000 on a dog they didn't expect to live a year. Once the sources of pain are removed, dogs (and cats) often suddenly (same day) act like a "puppy again", loving on you, eating better, tolerating the kids again, playing better, etc. You don't want to mess with or brush the mouth when it has current dental disease, and there is no way to solve that disease without a professional cleaning. So, get a professional cleaning, then usually a few days post-cleaning (ask the vet), it is time to begin regular (ideally daily) tooth brushing. The vet can teach you how to do this. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 I have good results when I use this regularly. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NNJ5CI/ref=s9_simh_gw_d0_g199_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=mobile-1&pf_rd_r=0TWYK81KFZN69RMQWST9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1634797062&pf_rd_i=507846 I was surprised how much build up this reduced, especially when combined with brushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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