Teeth Cleaning Tips

[Ivy]

Other than rawhide bones, what other things can I give my dogs to clean their teeth.

Well, my main concern is Hank. I got him in January of this year, he is only 2-1/2 years old and his teeth are horrendous. The vet was telling me that the best thing is to give him rawhide bones (the plain large cigar type ones) so it can start to chip away at all the build-up without breaking his teeth. It was starting to get under the gum line. Some of his back molars were almost completly covered with build-up.

He chews on those daily and it has made a huge difference.

Is there anything else that can be done to get his teeth cleaner? I will start brushing his teeth once more of the build-up has been chipped away.

I might need to take him in to get dental work done, but I would like to try all of the other alternates first.

[Dekka]

I don't think rawhides don't clean teeth. The best thing is to feed good RMB. The old rescue dogs at the 'raw co op ladies house' all have fantastic clean pearly white teeth. They didn't come that way!! Some of those dogs are in their middle teens and have teeth that look like they belong to a year old dog!! If not then brush your dog's teeth with a good enzmatic tooth paste.

[Ivy]

The build-up is to hard for teeth brushing. It is not coming off that easily.

I don't think raw hide should be the only thing used, but it sure made a huge difference with Hank's teeth.

[Dekka]

Then you should try RMB. That should get rid of all of it over the span of a couple of months.

[elegy]

agreed. harv's teeth were fugly when i brought him home from the shelter and i dickered with the idea of having them cleaned, but instead just gave him bones to chew. he had a lot of broken teeth, and one of them eventually abscessed, so i had to have that one pulled, but by that time, his other teeth looked so good he didn't need a full dental, so i didn't clean them, just had the bad one pulled.

[Ivy]

Not to sound stupid...but what is RMB?

[Nestnuuka]

What is RMB?

I have heard many good experience of product called PlaqueOff from my friends who had used it to their dogs. Here's a link: ProDen PlaqueOff***8482; - For Healthier Teeth and Gums

Can you find this from America?

[Dekka]

Raw Meaty Bones... best thing ever for cleaning teeth!!

[Tommysmom]

My 2.5 yr old JRT has horrendous teeth too - before we take him for cleaning I'd like to try RMB's... what kind of bones are those though? I'm a bit dense when it comes to this stuff, LOL! If I go to a butcher, is there a specific cut to ask for, like a rib bone or something?

[Dekka]

its good to start with something large and non gulpable. When I have a JRT foster in I often start with turkey necks, chicken backs (though those can be fatty).. pork necks (if your dog does ok with pork)