Bad Breath and dental issues

[Country Mun Dogwear]

Our lurcher, Mollie, has the worst breath imaginable - you can smell it even when she is not right next to you.
She's the first lurcher we've had and didn't know until the vet told us that they are well known for dental problems. Last year she needed two teeth taken out and a full clean-up (£345 since they need to be asleep for it!)

We've just bought Logic Orozyme dental chews to try - not cheap, especially since we can't give one dog a chew without giving one to the other. I will let you know if they make a difference.

In the meantime, any other suggestions (including home remedies) welcome!

 

[Violet Turner]

You can use some dental sprays - Naturel Promise Pet Dental Water
You can also give your dog fresh parsley to chew on.
Your vet can recommend a good chew for your dog, the chews your using are great but they could recommend a cheaper but better one.

 

[Country Mun Dogwear]

Thank you. I haven't heard of the dental water but will check it out - and parsley isnh't a problem (if she will eat it Will give it a try!

 

[Violet Turner]

Thank you. I haven't heard of the dental water but will check it out - and parsley isnh't a problem (if she will eat it Will give it a try!

if she wont eat it raw mix it in her food.

 

[JudyN]

Raw bones! They really help keep a dog's teeth clean and are much healthier than most dental chews - some of which contain sugar. The meat on the bones can even act as dental floss!

 

[Violet Turner]

Raw bones! They really help keep a dog's teeth clean and are much healthier than most dental chews - some of which contain sugar. The meat on the bones can even act as dental floss!

why didn't i think of this??!!

 

[JoanneF]

Do you brush her teeth? If not, it might be a good idea. You can start to get her used to the sensation of something against her teeth using a clean, loose woven cloth on your finger (the j-cloth type things on a roll are quite good). There are several products on the market - human toothpaste is NOT advised partly because it foams and partly because you need to be careful of ingredients such as Xylitol which is toxic to dogs. Enzymatic toothpastes such as Virbac are available from your vet or online. There is another product called Dentisept which I have started using fairly recently, which breaks up plaque/tartar and after initial cleaning doesn't have to be used daily as it is supposed to leave a coating on the teeth that stops the build up of plaque. Canident is supposed to be very good but is virtually impossible to get - apparently stocks have been withdrawn, not because of the product itself but a patenting or licensing issue or something like that. As an alternative i have started using Tropiclean (daily but with Dentisept twice a week) but it is too soon to say how effective it is. It is however minty fresh which is rather nice.

Also, and in my view this is a great thing for dental hygiene, I feed a raw chicken wing a couple of times a week. As well as the abrasive action of crunching bone there is a sinew or something that does a sort of flossing action. A larger dog might need something bigger.

But - you should also consider whether the problem is definitely dental and not further into the digestive system.

 

[JoanneF]

@JudyN - we did it again!

 

[arealhuman]

Interesting thread. I've been thinking about this for a while. Our dog has what I'd describe as normal dog breath and our vet actually recommended Logic gel after he had a tooth removed (it was split, he came to us like this), but we didn't use it. We do try and brush his teeth, but he's not such a willing volunteer meaning we only get to do the outside of those he'll let us get at. He gets a Dentastix each day and has a few crunchy treats (e.g. dried fish skins) to help as well. I gave him a bone once, and whilst chewing it he suddenly yelped, so I haven;t gone down that route again (separate thread about that on here somewhere). We did use an additive to help keep their teeth clean ages ago, but I couldn't actually tell you if it worked!

Interested in the parsley - what's the thinking behind how this works? Is there a recommended amount?

 

[Violet Turner]

Interesting thread. I've been thinking about this for a while. Our dog has what I'd describe as normal dog breath and our vet actually recommended Logic gel after he had a tooth removed (it was split, he came to us like this), but we didn't use it. We do try and brush his teeth, but he's not such a willing volunteer meaning we only get to do the outside of those he'll let us get at. He gets a Dentastix each day and has a few crunchy treats (e.g. dried fish skins) to help as well. I gave him a bone once, and whilst chewing it he suddenly yelped, so I haven;t gone down that route again (separate thread about that on here somewhere). We did use an additive to help keep their teeth clean ages ago, but I couldn't actually tell you if it worked!

Interested in the parsley - what's the thinking behind how this works? Is there a recommended amount?

A few sprigs, not excessive amounts because there is a toxin but its only affective if its given in a huge amount. I’m not sure where it came from. I have googled but no answer to your question.

 

[JoanneF]

My understanding is that parsley can freshen breath but doesn't clean teeth.

 

[Violet Turner]

My understanding is that parsley can freshen breath but doesn't clean teeth.

yeah exactly.