Skip to content

Teeth Cleaning

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • My previous basenji had terrible teeth - he had one pulled when he was only 4 and several more later in life. My vet told me that I really needed to clean his teeth (doggy brush and paste) which I tried at least once a week (he hated it). My current basenji tolerates getting his teeth brushed every other day or every three days but I skipped the brush and just rub the paste directly on his teeth, which the vet said was just as good.

  • My current basenji tolerates getting his teeth brushed every other day or every three days but I skipped the brush and just rub the paste directly on his teeth, which the vet said was just as good.

    We do the same - they allow it, but do not really like it .

    The paste thing just does not remove tatar & hardened plaque

    We only feel out dogs dry food.

  • We brush the teeth and we also have dental tools to scrape them too. That combined with bones, the teeth stay pretty clean.

  • teeth cleaning is expensive. banfield can do it on a wellness plan, but if you did the spay neuter this year you may want to wait until next year if you use the plan. they put the dog to sleep for this procedure.

    i paid about $350 at a regular vet when caesar had it done. he had his teeth cleaned for the first time at 5 years old. this is not something i would recommend doing every year. too expensive.

    this is a good reason to stay with dry food over wet.

  • @Mantis:

    teeth cleaning is expensive. banfield can do it on a wellness plan, but if you did the spay neuter this year you may want to wait until next year if you use the plan. they put the dog to sleep for this procedure.

    i paid about $350 at a regular vet when caesar had it done. he had his teeth cleaned for the first time at 5 years old. this is not something i would recommend doing every year. too expensive.

    this is a good reason to stay with dry food over wet.

    Better reason for using raw meaty bones…. also....

  • I use dry food, there are bones, dental chews, etc. Would the raw meaty bones be a better option? Do you have to keep them refrigerated?

    @tanza:

    Better reason for using raw meaty bones…. also....

  • You might want to try a product called DentaTreat. It is made by Wysong and is a Cheese based abrasive. You sprinkle it on their food daily and in a couple of weeks - teeth will look like they have been polished. Use it on my old dogs and it is fabulous. It's expensive but not like a vet dental.

  • @dmcarty:

    You might want to try a product called DentaTreat. It is made by Wysong and is a Cheese based abrasive. You sprinkle it on their food daily and in a couple of weeks - teeth will look like they have been polished. Use it on my old dogs and it is fabulous. It's expensive but not like a vet dental.

    http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/product_detail.aspx?item_cd=101087&click=5&s_kwcid=dentatreat|925802223&gclid=CMaikKDx148CFSBMGgoduQgL9g

    Found this link with a few reviews. Thanks DMCarty, I may have to give it a try.

  • Seems like mixed reviews-

    We feed our dogs only dry food and they still get quite a bit of plaque build up.

    Ours count tolerate dental tools- tooth brushes- yes

  • @Barklessdog:

    Ours count tolerate dental tools- tooth brushes- yes

    Like crate training, dremeling nails ect…..you have to start them on it when they are very young. I wouldn't say it's they're favorite thing, but they tolerate it.

  • Deke will be 5 in December. His teeth are pretty clean. He only gets dry food and we usually don't give him any of those soft treats either. I worked for a vet a while ago. I did dental cleanings. I wouldn't want to put my dog through the procedure yearly. It seems like dogs like people vary in the way their teeth are. Some go for along time and don't need it done others more often. I would only do it as an "as needed" type of thing. As the dogs age it gets harder on their Kidneys to have proceedures done with anesthesia. Things can be done to make it easier(like extra fluids after the proceedure) but I'd try things to keep them clean. I just started working on Deke's teeth I really forgot when he was little..I know bad mom. I got those dental wipes to start figured I work up to more "aggressive" cleanings.

  • @senji:

    Deke will be 5 in December. His teeth are pretty clean. He only gets dry food and we usually don't give him any of those soft treats either. I worked for a vet a while ago. I did dental cleanings. I wouldn't want to put my dog through the procedure yearly. It seems like dogs like people vary in the way their teeth are. Some go for along time and don't need it done others more often. I would only do it as an "as needed" type of thing. As the dogs age it gets harder on their Kidneys to have proceedures done with anesthesia. Things can be done to make it easier(like extra fluids after the proceedure) but I'd try things to keep them clean. I just started working on Deke's teeth I really forgot when he was little..I know bad mom. I got those dental wipes to start figured I work up to more "aggressive" cleanings.

    They have toothpaste that is chicken flavored, that really helps getting them used to brushing…..ours love the brushing part because they love the toothpaste......they aren't wild about the follow up to the brushing with Oxi fresh....that must not taste as good.

  • Tiggy tries to eat the tooth brush because of the paste, lol

  • Nylabones and other bones that are hard will sometimes make my dogs' gums bleed– perhaps yours just did the same?

  • There's also a gel mouthwash that my vet recommended with my old dog.
    And no they don't use it like we do - just squirt it on the back teeth.

  • What about those mint-flavored rawhides, bones, biscuits? Do they work?

Suggested Topics

  • Clean teeth

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    16k Views
    D
    If your dog does not lose weight after cutting back on the food, have a complete thyroid test done. Do not cut back the food drastically but slowly week by week. I have used plain canned pumpkin as a filler. My three dogs get no more than 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups but they are on different foods. Jennifer
  • Teeth cleaning for senior pooch

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    10k Views
    P
    No magic then, Debra? Paying a vet for what we can do at home! Or am I being too cynical?
  • New pups and clean teeth

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    3k Views
    NerdyDogOwnerN
    Hm, never noticed the human version. Hope I can get it here….which I kinda expect since it's "harvested from the seas of Norway"....lol If it helps me as much as Gizmo I will be in shock and joy! What I don't understand is it's in tablet form....how can it help teeth if you swallow it whole? Says it works through your blood stream....eh...okay... Looks like I might have unwittingly given clean teeth for the dogs and humans here....haha!
  • Teeth… What age?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    7k Views
    renaultf1R
    @Benkura: Puppy teeth are lovely but it is a relief when all the little 'needles' go. :) Ain't that the truth! :D:D
  • Help - multiple broken teeth!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    setidogS
    It seems like the lower 1/3 of his K9 (that's his fang I'm guessing!) is gone so we can see the pulp inside. It is not discolored and he's eating fine. I'm glad to hear that he can live without those teeth. I am curious to see what the dentist recommends for the future, since Seti obviously has weak teeth.
  • Teeth brushing

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    85
    0 Votes
    85 Posts
    27k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    PLEASE DO NOT!!! The AMVA and the dental veterinary society says RUN from ANY VET advertising no anesthesia cleaning. PLEASE, find a vet who knows what they are doing! The teeth may LOOK cleaner, but the MEDICAL issue is below the gums! http://www.avdc.org/dentalscaling.html However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons: 1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts. 2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic. 3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages… the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration. 4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed. Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose, and continual monitoring of the patient. ) Periodontal problems affect more than 80 percent of dogs over the age of four, according to Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic veterinarian Jan Bellows. University of Penn http://www.vet.upenn.edu/RyanVHUPforSmallAnimalPatients/SpecialtyCareServices/DentistryOralSurgery/ClientInformation/tabid/814/Default.aspx#AnesthesiaFrequencyDentalCleanings Need for Anesthesia and Frequency of Professional Dental Cleanings Need for Anesthesia In order to perform a thorough periodontal examination, dental radiography, scaling and polishing, gingival curettage and root planing, the pet must be under general anesthesia. Anesthetic gas and oxygen are delivered through an endotracheal tube, thus ensuring pain-free procedures and also protecting the airways from aspirating fluids or debris. Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, anesthesia-free dentistry performed by untrained individuals is inappropriate for several reasons, including: Significant safety concerns for the patient and operator. Insufficient cleaning of inaccessible tooth surfaces. No debridement of periodontal pockets. Oral discomfort and serious pain. Accidental aspiration of debris that can result in pneumonia and death. Furthermore, it is illegal for anybody but licensed veterinarians or supervised and trained veterinary technicians to practice veterinary medicine. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dentistry and oral surgery procedures are safely performed each year. The American Veterinary Dental College adopted a position statement on companion animal dental scaling without anesthesia. Anesthesia is essential for veterinary dental procedures, to ensure that the procedure can be completed successfully. Fear of general anesthesia is a natural concern voiced by many owners when a dental procedure is recommended. However, the risk of chronic oral infection, for example, is far greater than the risk of an anesthetic complication. \ btw… have dog with CUPS, an autoimmune issue. I have to have her teeth cleaned every 3 mos. I wish I didn't know so much about it. :(