For those on the NG who feed commercial diets, either dry or canned. How
is the periodontal health of your dog's teeth? Do you check your dog's
teeth? Do you check their breath? How do you keep your dog's teeth and
gums healthy? Do you brush your dog's teeth?

I am currently dealing with the dental health of one of my greyhounds. I
had consultation with one of the top, pioneering animal dentists in the
country. Aside from doing dental work on small animals, he works on zoo
animals like tigers and lions around the country and he lectures around
the world. He told me that 85% of all dogs and cats suffer from
periodontal disease after the age of 3, primarily from eating commercial
diets. Although he doesn't advocate a BARF diet because he is not a
nutritionist, he does say that the only way to keep your pet's teeth
healthy, when feeding a commercial diet is to brush their teeth daily.
He said that foods like Hill's T/D and Eukanuba for tartar, only work
minimally and are no substitute for brushing.

For those that feed BARF diets, does it keep your dog's teeth clean and
their gums healthy? Do they still occasionally have to have their teeth
cleaned?

wrote in message
...
For those on the NG who feed commercial diets, either dry or canned. How
is the periodontal health of your dog's teeth? Do you check your dog's
teeth? Do you check their breath? How do you keep your dog's teeth and
gums healthy? Do you brush your dog's teeth?

I am currently dealing with the dental health of one of my greyhounds. I
had consultation with one of the top, pioneering animal dentists in the
country. Aside from doing dental work on small animals, he works on zoo
animals like tigers and lions around the country and he lectures around
the world. He told me that 85% of all dogs and cats suffer from
periodontal disease after the age of 3, primarily from eating commercial
diets. Although he doesn't advocate a BARF diet because he is not a
nutritionist, he does say that the only way to keep your pet's teeth
healthy, when feeding a commercial diet is to brush their teeth daily.
He said that foods like Hill's T/D and Eukanuba for tartar, only work
minimally and are no substitute for brushing.

For those that feed BARF diets, does it keep your dog's teeth clean and
their gums healthy? Do they still occasionally have to have their teeth
cleaned?

I've fed my dog a simplified BARF diet (without veggies, and with less bones
than recommended by Dr. Billinghurst) for three years, and I've never needed
to clean his teeth. They're pearly white, and he has no doggie breath or
doggie odor of any sort.

Actually, it doesn't seem like there's any real need of *chewing* raw meaty
bones to keep the teeth and gums clean. My dog mostly gets a commercially
made ground mash of raw meat, fish, chicken and tripe, with a few raw meaty
bones thrown in once in awhile for his gnawing pleasure. I read somewhere
that there's some enzyme or something in raw meat and bones that keep the
tartar from building up, and that ground food has the same effect as whole
raw meaty bones.

Another reason why I feed him raw food is that I'm allergic to dogs, but not
to *my* dog. I'm definitely allergic to his two kibble-fed litterbrothers,
but my own dog can sleep in my bed without causing me any allergic
reactions. But - and this is when it gets really interesting - if I feed him
a handful of kibble 3-4 days in a row, his body odor changes and my nose and
eyes start to itch. And once I stop giving him kibble, the allergic reaction
also stops.

Needless to say, I prefer feeding a raw, meat-based diet to pushing dry,
processed kibble.

Rox

Both dogs eat Z/D and get their teeth cleaned yearly. One dog's teeth and
gums are wonderful, the other tends to get more tartar.

In my husband's practice he sees that some dogs are more prone to
periodontal disease than others regardless of diet or brushing.

-Sharon

Barney ate Purina foods his whole life and had no dental problems. About 4
months before he died from cancer we had his teeth cleaned and the vet said
they were in excellent shape for an 11 year old.

I never brushed his teeth but my dogs got whole raw carrots 2 or 3 times a
week and I feel that this helped keep his teeth clean.

Celeste

wrote in message
...
For those on the NG who feed commercial diets, either dry or canned. How
is the periodontal health of your dog's teeth? Do you check your dog's
teeth? Do you check their breath? How do you keep your dog's teeth and
gums healthy? Do you brush your dog's teeth?

I am currently dealing with the dental health of one of my greyhounds. I
had consultation with one of the top, pioneering animal dentists in the
country. Aside from doing dental work on small animals, he works on zoo
animals like tigers and lions around the country and he lectures around
the world. He told me that 85% of all dogs and cats suffer from
periodontal disease after the age of 3, primarily from eating commercial
diets. Although he doesn't advocate a BARF diet because he is not a
nutritionist, he does say that the only way to keep your pet's teeth
healthy, when feeding a commercial diet is to brush their teeth daily.
He said that foods like Hill's T/D and Eukanuba for tartar, only work
minimally and are no substitute for brushing.

For those that feed BARF diets, does it keep your dog's teeth clean and
their gums healthy? Do they still occasionally have to have their teeth
cleaned?

From:

For those that feed BARF diets, does it keep your dog's teeth clean and
their gums healthy?

Yes, except for the tiny toys.

Do they still occasionally have to have their teeth cleaned?

No, just the toy dogs.

Debbie

Looking for a buddy? Meet Sunny!
http://community.webtv.net/staffymom/Adoptme

wrote :

For those that feed BARF diets, does it keep your dog's teeth clean
and their gums healthy? Do they still occasionally have to have their
teeth cleaned?

Right now I just have cats (I do take care of my sister's dog though on
occasion). Anyway, I have fed my cats a homemade raw diet since they
were kittens (they're 5 years old now), and their teeth are in
beautiful shape. I don't see any tarter or yellowing like I did in
previous pets that were fed a commerical petfood. Their vet says their
teeth look great and don't need to be professionally cleaned. I do
think the action of chewing that raw meat and bones give does benefit
the teeth, plus I don't feed grains which I think tend to stick to the
teeth, especially things like corn. I also believe that genetics can
play a large part in dental health.

I do think there is a genetic component to it. My dog that has a
problem, has a continuing problem no matter how much I brush my dogs
teeth. My other dog has great teeth whether I brush them or not. My
female has receding gums on her front incisors even though she has never
had tartar there. I think the other problem is that she sleeps with her
front teeth exposed like she is smiling. I thing the dryness accelerates
gum disease.

wrote:
I do think there is a genetic component to it. My dog that has a
problem, has a continuing problem no matter how much I brush my dogs
teeth. My other dog has great teeth whether I brush them or not. My
female has receding gums on her front incisors even though she has
never
had tartar there.

I do think that even if the animal is prone to dental disease due to
genetics, a good diet can still help though.

I think the other problem is that she sleeps with her
front teeth exposed like she is smiling. I thing the dryness
accelerates
gum disease.


Aww, she sounds happy But that's an interesting thought about the
exposure to air.

PawsForThought wrote:
wrote:

I do think there is a genetic component to it. My dog that has a
problem, has a continuing problem no matter how much I brush my dogs
teeth. My other dog has great teeth whether I brush them or not. My
female has receding gums on her front incisors even though she has

never

had tartar there.


I do think that even if the animal is prone to dental disease due to
genetics, a good diet can still help though.

I think the other problem is that she sleeps with her

front teeth exposed like she is smiling. I thing the dryness

accelerates

gum disease.



Aww, she sounds happy But that's an interesting thought about the
exposure to air.

There is a definite link between dry mouth and tooth decay in humans. I
suspect there is a similar effect in dogs.

Kathleen

I work a lot with retired racing greyhounds, and from talking with their
owners, have figured out that Some greys just have a greater problem
with cruddy teeth than other grey... and other dogs. That would back up
someone's comment about a genetic connection. Since these dogs are not
bred specifically for a long life, just a good racing career of 3-5
years, not much attention is given to long range concerns.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia