New pups and clean teeth


  • Just a reminder to everybody with new pups to start getting them used to their teeth being brushed.

    http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=1485


  • Dan you should see Sonny & I wrestle before bed to get his teeth brushed :eek: He goes and lays on his back with his legs up in the air because he knows its hard to pick him up that way!! :p But his teeth look good :):):):)


  • @sonnyboy:

    Dan you should see Sonny & I wrestle before bed to get his teeth brushed :eek: He goes and lays on his back with his legs up in the air because he knows its hard to pick him up that way!! :p But his teeth look good :):):):)

    LOL, I can see it!:D I've got Buddy so I just swish the brush in the cup of water as I walk to the couch, which I call the dental chair and he runs over with no battles.


  • Can I ask if basenjis are prone to more dental problems than other dogs? How many of you are brushing your dogs' teeth?


  • @Kipawa:

    Can I ask if basenjis are prone to more dental problems than other dogs? How many of you are brushing your dogs' teeth?

    IMO, no more then other dogs… I brush my teeth..ggg.... I brush theirs (would be nice if I could teach them to use the tooth brush themselves...).... and you will find with some different lines (and I am sure this is true for all breeds) some may have more dental problems then others.... Of course usually toy breeds have teeth problems, more than bigger dogs....


  • You can also use raw meaty bones to help keep their teeth clean :)


  • I have just purchased a microfibre toothcleaner for Malaika.
    It looks like a tiny sock that you slip onto your finger and clean the dogs teeth with.
    The info says that it contains 12,000 more fibres than a conventional toothbrush and each fibre contains antibacterial silver ions which gently removes bacteria and plaque.
    Only used it twice so far and she's still getting used to it.
    Am also considering getting a jar of paque off to put onto food, need to research it first.


  • I do a few things to maintain Kananga's teeth. I apply Petzlife Gel a few evenings a week right before bedtime. I'll usually try and brush his teeth a couple times per week, mostly on the weekends. But I also give him a flat rawhide to chew on throughout the month which has really helped break down the tartar on his back teeth (which are usually the tougher ones to brush).

    So with all of those methods combined, it really keeps his teeth pearly white. My dentist had recommended the flat rawhide one. She said that's one of the best ways they can keep their back teeth clean.


  • I gave up brushing a long time ago. Gizmo would have nothing to do with it.

    His teeth did have a bit of yellow so I started giving him ProDen PlaqueOff and his teeth are a stunning white, and his breath is fresh.

    Sounds like a sales pitch I know, but I am VERY pleased with the results.


  • Thanks for sharing! I found a retailer on the website here in the US. I am eager to try it for my critters and maybe for us humans too!


  • You're welcome. Don't let the price scare you, you use very little. I have had the one "package" for a long time now…must be a few months, and not at half way yet.

    I have found using it on kibble/dry food is a must. The thing is the dog has to chew it. Wet/raw food usually is gulped down. So Gizmo gets dry food for breakfast (with PlaqueOff in it), and raw for dinner.

    Let us know the results.


  • Plaque off sounds good and i noticed too that you can get a human version.
    It has quite a high Iodine content so mustn't be used on animals with hyperthyroidism.
    That rules one of my cats out but i am certainly considering investing in some.


  • 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!

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    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. :(