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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
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I have to admit, I'm not very good at dental care for my dog. I give her some of those dental treets every now and then and thought that was good enough (bad me, bad me) anyways, she always had really good teeth so I never really worried about it until I was checkin' her out today and realized it looked like she has cavities... er somethin'. Are these cavities? I can't afford to take her to the vet right now, so I'll probably just start brushing her teeth daily or something. Just wanted to get some opinions :/
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Veggie Regular
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,009
Dogs rarely get cavities like humans do. Tartar and gum disease are the two biggest problems they get.
It looks like she's worn her enamel away. The yellow spots are dentine showing. Does she chew on rocks or hard surfaces a lot?
Her teeth actually look fairly clean. Can you get a shot of her molars? That's usually where the tartar builds up the most.
It looks like she's worn her enamel away. The yellow spots are dentine showing. Does she chew on rocks or hard surfaces a lot?
Her teeth actually look fairly clean. Can you get a shot of her molars? That's usually where the tartar builds up the most.
Veggie Regular
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,319
How old is she?
Keep on freepin' on
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Veggie Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,282
looks like a rock chewer to me!
could you start investing in pet insurance now so when she needs a dental (or other medical care) it won't be such a big deal?
could you start investing in pet insurance now so when she needs a dental (or other medical care) it won't be such a big deal?
http://megatarian.blogspot.com
Beginner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
Hmm I've never seen her chew on rocks. She only eats dry food, could that be it? She's not really big on chew toys except her one "baby" squeaky toy. She's five years old. Pet insurance sounds like a good idea. How do I get that?
Should I be worried?? Cause I am. heh
Should I be worried?? Cause I am. heh
Veggie Regular
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,664
I don't think they are cavities.
For the most part, you don't have to worry a lot about dog's teeth. Her teeth look really clean.
Dogs that are fed only kibble tend to have pretty decent teeth. What some people do (I am one of them) is to give their dogs bones ocassionally - real raw bones (just ask at a meat shop) - big ones, joints, that they cannot possibly break apart with their teeth (and since they're raw they shouldn't be a problem even if they did). Some people aren't comfortable with this because they feel it is a risk to the dog. If you do give her a bone, watch her while she is chewing it to be sure she isn't breaking it into pieces. I have yet to see a dog break one of these up - and my german shepherd gives it a good try.
What kind of dog is she?? (Just out of curiosity)
For the most part, you don't have to worry a lot about dog's teeth. Her teeth look really clean.
Dogs that are fed only kibble tend to have pretty decent teeth. What some people do (I am one of them) is to give their dogs bones ocassionally - real raw bones (just ask at a meat shop) - big ones, joints, that they cannot possibly break apart with their teeth (and since they're raw they shouldn't be a problem even if they did). Some people aren't comfortable with this because they feel it is a risk to the dog. If you do give her a bone, watch her while she is chewing it to be sure she isn't breaking it into pieces. I have yet to see a dog break one of these up - and my german shepherd gives it a good try.
What kind of dog is she?? (Just out of curiosity)
Beginner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
I couldn't get a good pic of her molars. She's actually a shepherd/chow/lab mix. Here's a better pic. 
Veggie Regular
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,664
Awww she's sweet I was going to guess shepherd from the first pic !
I was going to guess shepherd from the first pic !
Veggie Regular
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 847
Quote:
Originally Posted by fyvel 
I don't think they are cavities.
For the most part, you don't have to worry a lot about dog's teeth. Her teeth look really clean.
Dogs that are fed only kibble tend to have pretty decent teeth. What some people do (I am one of them) is to give their dogs bones ocassionally - real raw bones (just ask at a meat shop) - big ones, joints, that they cannot possibly break apart with their teeth (and since they're raw they shouldn't be a problem even if they did). Some people aren't comfortable with this because they feel it is a risk to the dog. If you do give her a bone, watch her while she is chewing it to be sure she isn't breaking it into pieces. I have yet to see a dog break one of these up - and my german shepherd gives it a good try.
What kind of dog is she?? (Just out of curiosity)
I don't think they are cavities.
For the most part, you don't have to worry a lot about dog's teeth. Her teeth look really clean.
Dogs that are fed only kibble tend to have pretty decent teeth. What some people do (I am one of them) is to give their dogs bones ocassionally - real raw bones (just ask at a meat shop) - big ones, joints, that they cannot possibly break apart with their teeth (and since they're raw they shouldn't be a problem even if they did). Some people aren't comfortable with this because they feel it is a risk to the dog. If you do give her a bone, watch her while she is chewing it to be sure she isn't breaking it into pieces. I have yet to see a dog break one of these up - and my german shepherd gives it a good try.
What kind of dog is she?? (Just out of curiosity)
It's difficult to tell if your dog needs a teeth cleaning, the incisors can look great while the premolars and molars (all the teeth behind the canines) are rotting and falling out. The best way to tell is if there is hard brown tartar on the carnassial teeth (big pointy teeth near the back), they can stand a cleaning. If there is a darker pink to red line on gums, there is gingivities and discomfort (red=inflammation=pain) and the teeth need cleaning sooner rather than later.
You can help prevent the need for a prefessional teeth cleaning by brush your dog's teeth with a child tooth brush and doggy toothpaste (not irritating if swallowed). Regular dry food will not help, after a fer chomps it's the same as wet food. You can give special treats that will help, but be careful with real bones (they can cause the teeth to wear down, a problem that your dog already has). Raw bones can cause disease like salmonella, even if your dog doesn't get sick, other people or animals can get it from petting your dog. Even cooked bones could cause disease if you leave them out for too long. You could also get a very greasy floor if your dog chases the bone around (like our first springer did) and have a very nasty mess to clean up. With an appropriate sized bone (like a leg bone of cattle or pigs), there is little risk of the bone splintering. Smaller bones can be swallowed and rip the insides of the GI, which can be fatal.
Horse hooves are great for keeping teeth clean. I saw a 12 yr old shep-x with teeth that made us think he was only a year old. The dog belonged to a farrier and ate the hoof trimmings all the time.
Veggie Regular
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,664
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekywhiskers
It's difficult to tell if your dog needs a teeth cleaning, the incisors can look great while the premolars and molars (all the teeth behind the canines) are rotting and falling out. The best way to tell is if there is hard brown tartar on the carnassial teeth (big pointy teeth near the back), they can stand a cleaning. If there is a darker pink to red line on gums, there is gingivities and discomfort (red=inflammation=pain) and the teeth need cleaning sooner rather than later.
You can help prevent the need for a prefessional teeth cleaning by brush your dog's teeth with a child tooth brush and doggy toothpaste (not irritating if swallowed). Regular dry food will not help, after a fer chomps it's the same as wet food. You can give special treats that will help, but be careful with real bones (they can cause the teeth to wear down, a problem that your dog already has). Raw bones can cause disease like salmonella, even if your dog doesn't get sick, other people or animals can get it from petting your dog. Even cooked bones could cause disease if you leave them out for too long. You could also get a very greasy floor if your dog chases the bone around (like our first springer did) and have a very nasty mess to clean up. With an appropriate sized bone (like a leg bone of cattle or pigs), there is little risk of the bone splintering. Smaller bones can be swallowed and rip the insides of the GI, which can be fatal.
Horse hooves are great for keeping teeth clean. I saw a 12 yr old shep-x with teeth that made us think he was only a year old. The dog belonged to a farrier and ate the hoof trimmings all the time.
It's difficult to tell if your dog needs a teeth cleaning, the incisors can look great while the premolars and molars (all the teeth behind the canines) are rotting and falling out. The best way to tell is if there is hard brown tartar on the carnassial teeth (big pointy teeth near the back), they can stand a cleaning. If there is a darker pink to red line on gums, there is gingivities and discomfort (red=inflammation=pain) and the teeth need cleaning sooner rather than later.
You can help prevent the need for a prefessional teeth cleaning by brush your dog's teeth with a child tooth brush and doggy toothpaste (not irritating if swallowed). Regular dry food will not help, after a fer chomps it's the same as wet food. You can give special treats that will help, but be careful with real bones (they can cause the teeth to wear down, a problem that your dog already has). Raw bones can cause disease like salmonella, even if your dog doesn't get sick, other people or animals can get it from petting your dog. Even cooked bones could cause disease if you leave them out for too long. You could also get a very greasy floor if your dog chases the bone around (like our first springer did) and have a very nasty mess to clean up. With an appropriate sized bone (like a leg bone of cattle or pigs), there is little risk of the bone splintering. Smaller bones can be swallowed and rip the insides of the GI, which can be fatal.
Horse hooves are great for keeping teeth clean. I saw a 12 yr old shep-x with teeth that made us think he was only a year old. The dog belonged to a farrier and ate the hoof trimmings all the time.
To decrease the mess, etc with real bones: freeze them as soon as you get them. Let your dog have them outside. When they are done with them, you can throw them back in the freezer if they haven't been out for very long.
Smaller bones are definitely a risk. So are cooked bones (they tend to splinter). Any bone your dog can chomp through is a risk. There are some who say that raw bones won't hurt a dog if your dog swallows them, but I'm not so sure about that. That's why I would never let my dog break up a bone and swallow it.
My vet once showed me a sliver of (cooked) bone that came out of a dog - it had killed the dog. Then on the other hand, I've seen dogs who have gotten into the garbage and eaten a bunch of pork chop bones and made out just fine. Cooked bones are always a definite risk. The raw bones thing is up in the air - and even vets can't seem to agree on it. It's a judgement call we all have to make for our dogs.
If you think dogs who eat kibble have bad teeth, you should see dogs that get all wet food. Yuck!!
Beginner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
Thanks for your response. I don't think it's any of those, I'm more worried about the wearing down on her front teeth. She has a little bit of tartar so I will start brushing her teeth anyway. How often are you supposed to brush them? Is baby toothpaste alright? I already have that, so if I can use that that'd be easier. 
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