What do you use to keep your dogs teeth clean?

my dogs are 1 year old, have at least one rawhide treat a day, we also get them different types of dental chews. i brush their teeth about twice a week...





yesterday i noticed they've both got plaque! not really bad, but the startings of it and I don't want it getting worse...





so, if your dogs teeth are good- what food do you feed them? what brand or brands of treats? do you give them rawhide or bones (I heard bones were bad for them?), do you brush their teeth, etc etc!!





Any help would be great





PS: I can't ask my vet, long story but I can't right now. I do know lots of vet nurses but each one uses different treats, methods, etc so just want to get some more ideas!





10 points for most helpful answer

What do you use to keep your dogs teeth clean?
The Best Way to Canine Dental Health:





Dry Dog Food-the friction from the dry dog food helps fight plaque, versus the wet food. There are dog foods that claim to help dental issues..I think any brand of a dry, healthy, wholesome dog food will do just fine.





Dental Chews-these pseudo-raw hide treats are made to keep your dog's teeth clean and fresh. You can get them at pretty much any vet's office and sometimes they sell them at pet stores such as Petsmart or Petco.





Extensive Dental Cleaning-Veterinarians offer a dental cleaning for your dog (just like when you get your teeth cleaned at the dentist), they run about $150, depending on how expensive your vet costs. The Veterinarian/Vet Tech cleans the dog teeth extensively while to dog is under anesthesia. They remove all the plaque and tarter. This is the best method if your dog has plaque build up. Once the cleaning is complete, you can continue to brush the dog's teeth and prevent any further dental issues from occurring.





Getting your dog's teeth cleaned is so important to their health and should not be overlooked. When a dog's teeth have plaque build up, they can get infections in their blood stream if they are severe. Dogs who generally need a teeth cleaning have bad breath as well. Maintaing canine dental health will prolong their life and prevent any unwanted infections within the mouth.





If you or I were to not brush our teeth for the majority of our lives, we would have dental/medical problems as well.





You mentioned you were using raw hides. I do not recommend raw hides. I am an animal welfare professional and have seen a plethora of animals choke and die on raw hides. The problem is that the raw hides do not break down well. They get stuck in the dog's throat when they become 'string like'.





There are alternative treats such as Compressed Raw hides, they basically are raw hide treats (that are flavored) but are broken down and highly edible. This way the dog can enjoy a treat and not run the risk of choking.





Stay away from any (real) bones. They tend to splint and get stuck in the throat as well. There are other treats aimed at canine dental health that you can ask your vet or pet store professional about. You can also do research on the internet as to which ones work.





You are on the right track to superior canine dental health, Keep up the great work by brushing your dog's teeth and consider the other options that I mentioned. I'm glad your interested in your dog's health!
Reply:Thanks for choosing my answer as the 'best'. Please let me know if you would like any additional information. Glad I could help! Report It

Reply:Greenies! They're available in most pet health stores. Dogs love'em. They look like green toothbrushes.





Brushing them twice a week is far too much. They only need it every month or so.





Bones bad?? Nonsense. Give 'em rawhide. It'll keep them from chewing things you dont want destroyed.
Reply:Give then a bone !!! You get those specially made bones that will keep teeth healthy and clean!
Reply:If you take you dogs to the groomers they will usually clean dogs teeth.
Reply:you can feed your dogs keeble for meal not semi-moist or wet give him eat greenies which is avaliable in most pet shop buy dog toothpaste(chicken or other flavours)that your dog like you can also continue giving him yo eat rawhide..hope this help
Reply:I give my dog a Dentastix once a day, crunchy food (Eukanuba) and crunchy treats. Also, I brush his teeth once a week, give him natural rawhide, and an oral rinse once a week. I use Dr. Fosters and Smith peppermint oral rinse to disinfect his mouth. He still has plaque. Sometimes I added Pet Kiss to his water bowl to work on plaque.





I've tried Greenies. He loved them but they didn't do anything for his teeth.





The only time I saw snow white teeth was on a dog who got bones all the time. My dog's teeth get better when I give him the occasional bone. I buy them at the grocery store, bake them, freeze them and give them to him on a hot day as a treat. Some pet store bones look as if they've been dyed to look more appetizing to owners.





If you've giving your dogs flavored rawhide it may be staining their teeth. I don't know that for sure, but there's enough dye in those to stain the carpet, why not the teeth?
Reply:try to feed him with little bones like wings %26amp;...


Believe me the big food producer companies lie about pet food that it has to be canned %26amp;... If you were them, did you like to eat processed foods everyday.


I'm a vet student %26amp; our professros beleive that dogs %26amp; all pets should eat natural like humen...


These teeth germ %26amp;... happens sooner when you feed them with junk foods.
Reply:I give my dog Bonio biscuits that have mint in to freshen breath - he normally has one a day - 2 at the very most. He loves them! Then as a treat, every other night he has a pigs ear. We don't get the flavoured ones, as not only do they stain his teeth, they also leave awful marks on the carpet. He finds them delicious but they also help to keep his teeth clean, as they are totally natural and because they are tough to chew on strengthen his teeth and jaw too.
Reply:raw bones. greenies have been killing dogs lately.



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