Dental Scaler

DanceInThe_Dark

Personally I'd recommend brushing every week, big knuckle bones once a week (got to be careful here as my dogs can destroy knuckle bones in a VERY short time and then gulp the remaining bone lump- result major operation) and then use a descaler occasionally(not a pick which is not designed for the job) carefully removing any build up of food the brush didn't reach

Put the dog between your legs, his front legs just in front of you, and Always scrape away from the gumline. Don't dig round amongst the teeth, better to flick out any food, carefully.

Usually scrapers are tapered at the end and the tapered side is next to the tooth. Be gentle as you can always go over it again and its better to be too gentle than too rough ( your Vet should be able to show you).

I follow with another brush clean.

Using a scraper with care should NOT mean you are destroying the tooth enamel!!

Eels100

Toothsmith wrote: »

Actually they do!

They just generally don't live long enough for it to become a major problem when they are in the wild.

:rotfl: Don't shatter their illusions, man!

True that in wild dogs the canines and incisors often suffer quite badly but the upper carnassials and molars (which are generally the worst teeth in domestic dogs and cats) tend not to be so severely affected as to cause any problems.

Sadly this isn't the case with our pets, as can be seen by the classic case of the Yorkie which presents aged 15 with systemic infection, renal failure and a mouthful of pus after years of nothing but Caesar to eat, or the greyhound which arrives in the surgery apparently exsanguinating via its nose - further investigation often reveals a delightful sinus tract following horrendous osteomyelitis and erosion around a canine. Thankfully the veterinary profession is waking up to the fact that dental treatment can and should consist of more than a quick scrape and a rub, and there are some really excellent veterinary dentists to whom we can refer the real horrors to.

I will admit that I use tartar forceps to remove any major grot from my lurchers' canines while conscious, but bones do take care of the rest. I have a modicum of experience though and wouldn't necessarily recommend that a lay person has a go for fear of making a small problem into a big one. Hands up, I don't practice what I preach, but there isn't a substitute for training your pet to accept brushing from a young age - yes, even cats! :eek:

canihelpu

now sold on ebay, and also this site offers scalers/mirror/probe, small fee for postage.

dental-mirror.co.uk

Sagz_2

You dug up a thread that was 4 years old to tell us?

coldstreamalways