Lady Flying Furball Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Hi, I am a bit disturbed as I had Tonka's teeth cleaned about 8 months ago and have been giving him many more bones since to keep his teeth good. I give chicken winfs 3-4 times a week and he has dry food and chews. I spent over $500 last time and I got a letter saying T was due for his free dentl check-up. Well, lo and behold the vet says they need cleaning and willl be easier this time as no extractions and just cleaning...so should be only around $250. I honestly can't believe that I am going to have to get his teeth cleaned under anaesthetic up to twice a year and minimum of $500. Surely this isn't so. I think little dogs can have more teeth things than bigger dogs but... Tonka is a papillon, will be 7 in August. Please let me know what you think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I don't think twice yearly dentals under GA are warranted in general but... I haven't seen your dogs teeth so its hard to say if this is appropriate or not? If they are actually bad, perhaps you could try brushing them daily and see if you can make an improvement or at least prevent any further tartar build up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 They actually aren't bad at all. Just a little plaque coming back on the canine incisor...but lots of white showing. I think I am going to cancel Monday's op as I think it is crazy. Plus he wants him to go on a dental food. The vet says now this won't brush off, it has to be cleaned off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 (edited) That sounds way over the top to me! Obviously I'm no vet and haven't seen his teeth but that just sounds ridiculous and I wouldn't be risking two anaesthetics a year just to keep teeth perfect if they aren't that bad to start with. Edited May 26, 2012 by Aussie3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 They actually aren't bad at all. Just a little plaque coming back on the canine incisor...but lots of white showing. I think I am going to cancel Monday's op as I think it is crazy. Plus he wants him to go on a dental food. The vet says now this won't brush off, it has to be cleaned off It isn't what you see above the gum line- its whats below that is the problem. Some dogs, like some people seem to have problems regardless of what you do. If it is a recurring problem then perhaps a visit with a specialist for a second opinion might be the way to go? They would be the best ones to tell you if your vet is being excessive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazyWal Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I have just paid another $260 to have Maddies teeth cleaned again...second time in 9 months.Maddie only eats on one side(nothing wrong with the other side)that's just how she eats.So I too have to pay over $500 a year for a full dental under anesthetic and she is only 3 years old.I have chicken flavoured toothpaste and clean her teeth once a week,she has bones,chicken wings,chews you name it but her teeth are just crap My other greyhound has no teeth issues and has never had to have a dental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Scale them yourself. I do my dog's teeth if there is ever any tartar appearing. My older bitch has had 3 upper molars removed from one side, so I need to do the lower opposing ones every now and then as she can't chew her bones on that side anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Scale them yourself. I do my dog's teeth if there is ever any tartar appearing. My older bitch has had 3 upper molars removed from one side, so I need to do the lower opposing ones every now and then as she can't chew her bones on that side anymore. How do you scale them yourself Dyzney?? With brushing? The vet said to get a baby or kiddles tooth brush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flick_Mac Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Twice yearly scale and polish is the gold-standard for dentistry - ideally we should have ours done the same frequency, but it's not as important as we brush... If he had bad teeth/a bad bite etc I'd be more inclined to do this and maybe as he gets older but maybe not neccessary at this stage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Hi, Flyingfurball, did your vet also tell you that once your dogs teeth have been cleaned the tartar/plaque will re-establish quicker due to the fact that the plaque adheres faster from the rougher surface from the scaling. I had my boys teeth cleaned and within 3 months they were covered in plaque again. I now use some excellent products which mean we don't need to take him for cleanings anymore. I use Petzlife Oral Care Gel and Plaque Off food additive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I understand about the tartar under the gum line being the ultimate culprit for the production of gum disease ..... but I do wonder about the affects of GA on the system. Hi, Flyingfurball, did your vet also tell you that once your dogs teeth have been cleaned the tartar/plaque will re-establish quicker due to the fact that the plaque adheres faster from the rougher surface from the scaling. I had my boys teeth cleaned and within 3 months they were covered in plaque again. I now use some excellent products which mean we don't need to take him for cleanings anymore. I use Petzlife Oral Care Gel and Plaque Off food additive. Chocolate - is this true even for the fact (?? fact as far as I'm aware, anyway) that in a veterinary clean, the teeth are polished after the clean, for this very reason ??? That question aside - I use Plaque Off and am finding it is assisting with the removal of plaque which gathered quite quickly and suddenly on my dog's very back teeth. I'm still working on it though. Do you specifically find that the using Petzlife Oral Care in conjunction with Plaque Off makes a lot of extra good difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Scale them yourself. I do my dog's teeth if there is ever any tartar appearing. My older bitch has had 3 upper molars removed from one side, so I need to do the lower opposing ones every now and then as she can't chew her bones on that side anymore. How do you scale them yourself Dyzney?? With brushing? The vet said to get a baby or kiddles tooth brush. No, I do not brush them. Brushing is more of a preventative and will remove plaque, not tartar. Tartar has to be scaled and I use a scaling tool and tweezers. Not that I am against brushing dogs' teeth or anything, but I just can't see myself committing to brushing 4 sets of teeth twice daily... as well as my own :D Our dogs have lovely clean teeth mostly. The eat a lot of bones and this does a terriic job mostly. I just give them a quick scale every now and then if I see it is required. The dogs just lay down for it, as when I dremel their nails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I have a hand scaler and use it when I need to. Usually only around the gum line on the canines and the carnassials occasionally and one has a retained baby tooth I need to keep clean. I would use some of the plaque off type of products and if you are confident, a hand scaler. I have always been told their teeth are polished after cleaning to ensure the teeth are smooth as well Erny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Like this: http://www.whelpingsupplies.com.au/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=88 or this: http://www.clipperworld.com.au/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=431 Wow, I learnt something and it makes sense to do it myself. I know Tonka's teeth were brushed once a week before I got him and he is a very accomodating little dog so I feel confident to do this myself... :) Thanks all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Okay, I just checked the vet surgery times and they are not open today at all. I feel a bit bad to cancel for tomorrow morning at such short notice so I am going to get his teeth cleaned which should be much cheaper as hardly anything on them and then take over dental care with a clean set of choppers. I don't want to burn my bridges with this vet clinic as they have been good. Just this particular vet always seems to clash with me (and me him). Last time I turned up to pick Tonks up after his teeth and the bill was over $600. The vet nurse saw that I was shocked and I told her that the vet had quoted $550. She let me go without paying and they gave it to me for the quoted $550. I feel a bit sheepish about cancelling at short notice this time because of that but seriously me and this particular vet don't get on. When I was having behavioural trouble with Tonka and other dogs this vet had been quite disparaging about me taking T to a wellknown behaviouralist out at Windsor, just because he hadn't heard of him and because of the name I'm going to tactfully avoid him and go to the other vet whom I really like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Hi, Flyingfurball, did your vet also tell you that once your dogs teeth have been cleaned the tartar/plaque will re-establish quicker due to the fact that the plaque adheres faster from the rougher surface from the scaling. I had my boys teeth cleaned and within 3 months they were covered in plaque again. I now use some excellent products which mean we don't need to take him for cleanings anymore. I use Petzlife Oral Care Gel and Plaque Off food additive. Yep, this food additive was recommended to me. I will also try to get some of the gel too. I give him dry food or a chicken wing so the food additive could be tricky. Apparently it goes well on wet food. I will also get a dental dry food like the prescriptive diet dental one. Apparently it is sprayed with fat which makes it taste yummy to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Gosh I've never had a Dental even suggested buy a Vet. Admittenly the GSD, Poodle,and Schipperke all ahd plenty of room for natural bone cleaning. I was anticipating having to get the Cavaliers done as a "midlife thingy" and for Bonnie who turns five this year, I was planning to ask my Vet when she has her annual check up but I envisage he wont want to do a GA unless absolutely necessary. She is not a keen chewer but I'm pleased she has recently shown interest in the deer antlers! I had my elderly Burmese cat done when he was under GA while having an eye stitched. I asked the vet and he said "Good Idea". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 (edited) My Cavaliers had a dental check last week. Vet said their teeth are perfect. My boy is 8yo and my girl will be 7yo in a couple of weeks. They have never needed a vet dental. I now give them ProDen Plaqueoff and it's evidently working well. Edited May 27, 2012 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 I understand about the tartar under the gum line being the ultimate culprit for the production of gum disease ..... but I do wonder about the affects of GA on the system. Hi, Flyingfurball, did your vet also tell you that once your dogs teeth have been cleaned the tartar/plaque will re-establish quicker due to the fact that the plaque adheres faster from the rougher surface from the scaling. I had my boys teeth cleaned and within 3 months they were covered in plaque again. I now use some excellent products which mean we don't need to take him for cleanings anymore. I use Petzlife Oral Care Gel and Plaque Off food additive. Chocolate - is this true even for the fact (?? fact as far as I'm aware, anyway) that in a veterinary clean, the teeth are polished after the clean, for this very reason ??? That question aside - I use Plaque Off and am finding it is assisting with the removal of plaque which gathered quite quickly and suddenly on my dog's very back teeth. I'm still working on it though. Do you specifically find that the using Petzlife Oral Care in conjunction with Plaque Off makes a lot of extra good difference? Yes despite teeth being polished at the end it has limited ability to smooth out the roughness of the tooth surface over any period of time so plaque soon adheres again. The Petzlife and the Plaque Off work in different ways so they are good to use in conjunction with each other. The Petzlife works topically by softening the plaque/tartar and the Plaque Off works systemically by stopping bacteria grow in the saliva. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Hi, Flyingfurball, did your vet also tell you that once your dogs teeth have been cleaned the tartar/plaque will re-establish quicker due to the fact that the plaque adheres faster from the rougher surface from the scaling. I had my boys teeth cleaned and within 3 months they were covered in plaque again. I now use some excellent products which mean we don't need to take him for cleanings anymore. I use Petzlife Oral Care Gel and Plaque Off food additive. Yep, this food additive was recommended to me. I will also try to get some of the gel too. I give him dry food or a chicken wing so the food additive could be tricky. Apparently it goes well on wet food. I will also get a dental dry food like the prescriptive diet dental one. Apparently it is sprayed with fat which makes it taste yummy to them. The Plaque Off can be used on dry food. You just sprinkle it on top of the biscuits and by the time the bowl is empty no sign of the Plaque Off left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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