Chews for dog with few teeth

Merry_Wanderer

2 weeks ago we got a lovely 6 y/o lurcher from dogs trust. She recently had 10 teeth removed. She has her front fangs, and very back molars, but not much in between. She's not able to eat a 'chew' and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for anything edible she could keep herself occupied with. I tried her with a denstix shape and while I didn't expect her to chew it properly, I thought it might be nice for her to play with, but I was too scared it would go down her throat whole in the end!

She has a kong, which is enjoyable for her, just thinking what els...

Just wondering if anyone else has experience with this.

MissSarah151

Hey - don't know if this will be any help because of lack of teeth (unless she can chew with her back molars) - but I noticed for a while my old westie stopped eating her rawhide chews which she loves - but would chew on the end of a chew my other westie had softened up - so I started running the chew under boiling water (it cools almost straight away, just pour from the kettle) - and since then she has been eating her chews as normal - they aren't so soft they are useless mush but soft enough to get her old choppers in to.

Sarah

Dollardog

Please don't give her rawhide, they are so dangerous, dog's can choke on them, see the thread on here about the ones from B&M.

Also:-
http://www.boxerrescue.com/rawhide_warning.htm

http://www.old-dog-treats-and-rawhide.com/rawhide-dog-chews.html

http://www.dogburg.com/warning-dangerous-dog-treats/

I never give my dog rawhide after seeing how one of my previous dogs used to chew it until it was soft, then swallow it in big lumps and sick it back up.

MissSarah151

Dollardog wrote: »

Please don't give her rawhide, they are so dangerous, dog's can choke on them, see the thread on here about the ones from B&M.

Also:-
http://www.boxerrescue.com/rawhide_warning.htm

http://www.old-dog-treats-and-rawhide.com/rawhide-dog-chews.html

http://www.dogburg.com/warning-dangerous-dog-treats/

I never give my dog rawhide after seeing how one of my previous dogs used to chew it until it was soft, then swallow it in big lumps and sick it back up.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention - did not know about this - been having a little read up and there are some pretty mixed messages about its' safety.

I've personally never had any problems - they are ALWAYS supervised.

I just thought because reputable pet places sold them they are ok, and I've bought them for years, I've never bought from bargain shops either.

Does anyone know what the professional stance is, i.e. vets/sspca/rspca etc?

Sarah

Kinski

My sister has a friend who's dog died from getting a rawhide chew stuck in it's throat, I used to give my lad them but no more, more than once I had to put my fingers down his throat to pull out a soggy mess after he started choking on them. I much prefer to give my dogs pizzel's and I'm hoping to get them stag bars at the end of the month. My first dog didn't have many teeth left but it didn't stop her gnawing away at solid treats, her gums were so hard that it didn't bother her at all, she might not have been able to break bits of to eat the way she did when she had a full set of teeth but she still enjoyed them.

Dollardog

MissSarah151 wrote: »

Thank you for bringing this to my attention - did not know about this - been having a little read up and there are some pretty mixed messages about its' safety.

I've personally never had any problems - they are ALWAYS supervised.

I just thought because reputable pet places sold them they are ok, and I've bought them for years, I've never bought from bargain shops either.

Does anyone know what the professional stance is, i.e. vets/sspca/rspca etc?

Sarah

If you look a few threads down for the thread on here about the B&M ones, (here you are - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4205205), there is a link to a vet site, there are also comments from people who have known dogs to have died from them.
Not meaning to scare you at all, but rather be safe than sorry, I would never even consider giving them to my dog now.

'Reputable' pet places sell Bob Martins flea prducts, but try Googling that and seeing the horror stories of animals dying.

olias

OP, have you thought about carrots? My dogs love them, they are good for them, not fattening and they are reasonably soft, so shouldn't harm gums. Best bit is they are cheap as chips! Try going to a place that deals with horse feed and you can get a massive sack of them for only £2.25.

Olias

zaksmum

My dogs have always had rawhide with no problems at all, they love it.

When my old dog had very few teeth, I just soaked a rawhide chew in hot water for about 5 minutes, let it cool then gave it to him softened up.

He could happily then have a good old chew along with my other dog.

MissSarah151

Dollardog wrote: »

If you look a few threads down for the thread on here about the B&M ones, (here you are - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4205205), there is a link to a vet site, there are also comments from people who have known dogs to have died from them.
Not meaning to scare you at all, but rather be safe than sorry, I would never even consider giving them to my dog now.

'Reputable' pet places sell Bob Martins flea prducts, but try Googling that and seeing the horror stories of animals dying.

Thanks - I'll definitely have a read. No, you haven't scared me just really glad you brought this up. This is from dogs trust website:

''Treats:

Bones can damage teeth and cause bowel obstructions. Raw carrots, rawhide chews and safe chew toys are better alternatives''

I think part of the problem is apparently rawhide is not classed as a food product - therefore does not have the same stringent quality control - so perhaps rawhide itself in general is not the problem - but perhaps the way it is prepared (i.e. sharp blocks of it Vs little cigar sticks and where it is bought/supplied from). I'm going to do some more research on this now!


OP - sorry to hijack your thread!

Sarah

Wickwar

we give my 2 Jack Russells a beef bone & wont see them for hours & makes their teeth shiny & white.As for treats we save up the meat juices & my wife makes home made dog biscuits which is so easy & not full of nasties.

MissSarah151

Wickwar wrote: »

we give my 2 Jack Russells a beef bone & wont see them for hours & makes their teeth shiny & white.As for treats we save up the meat juices & my wife makes home made dog biscuits which is so easy & not full of nasties.

Haha - hope they are well labelled and you don't end up dunking meat juice biscuit in your afternoon cup of tea!