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I have my dogs teeth cleaned by a vet every 2-3 years. My vet charges $211 for the teeth cleaning with a blood workup for $62 before the surgery. I don't think I would or could pay $900..

I THINK we can all agree that chewing helps remove some tartar, not prevent it. Brushing helps, but doesn't prevent it either. Soft food def creates more tartar faster but so does chewing on kibble but slower than soft food. Depending on where you are Dental cleaning ranges from $200+...but $900 is ridiculous loll!
Now, my question is for those w/pups that you brush their teeth everynight & they don't need bi/annual cleanings or even had to do cleaning for years...what toothpaste do you use & what do you feed? Bc I brush my guys teeth every night & the girls still have so much gunk forming on their back molars right below their gum line. It's not that bad now, but I can see yellow stuff. This is why I'm thinking it's genetics, bc Princess is Mimi's daughter, but Turbo who is Mimi's son has white teeth. BTW, they eat 100% soft food, moistened kibble, sometimes mixed w/canned food & they don't get any kind of chews.

Moki chews. Eats Fromms with meats. Get veggies/fruit for snacks. Sure some maybe genetic but I brush the back of his Molars. I brush tooth by tooth. Its routine. I've had many dogs that let me. Only one that didn't had bad teeth. I figure any plague that is removed always helps. For ppl who think it doesn't work at all don't brush your teeth for 2 days. Look at the build up. Some ppl get more plaque then others but we all will get build up if we don't brush. I just use the Dog toothpaste forget the brand right now. JME

Mine all lets me brush their teeth except Momo...he's the only one who had 3 small molars pulled, but I'm not even sure if all 3 were bad. Bc he has impacted saliva glands & I think the vet removed the very back ones bc she thought they were causing his saliva glands problems. I think this bc she was sure that pulling those teeth would solve the saliva gland issue (which was sent to be tested & it came back as salivary tissue) but it had not.:( They're still hard as almonds & shaped like them too. When I asked her about it @ the recheck, she said 'That's just Momo'. WTFreak? She is no longer our vet. Anyway, getting way off topic!

I believe daily brushing helps tremendously, along w/a good chew (raw meaty bones would be best, or just even chewing on the raw meat helps like Teegy mentioned) & for those not comfortable w/raw meat (like me), dental cleanings will do.

I all I can is I believe it helps. Still get Dentals. If they aren't pulling teeth great. If you don't brush I think thats no help at all. And the dog will get more build up more chace of getting decay and gum disease. I can look at my dogs teeth and see if they look bad and maybe need teeth pulled? Can see decay. Ppl will do what they do. Doesn't matter. I brush thats what I do

Has anyone ever used Tropiclean gel and water additive for their
Yorkies teeth? Does it work ?

When it comes to dentals, I don't think there is a one size fits all kind of solution. Every dog is different and may have different dental needs and what may work for one may not for another. You find what works and keep up with it, there is only so much we can do. Dentals are great but they too are short limited. And unfortunately genetics plays a huge role in this. So you can brush, scale, have professional dentals all you want and it still isn't enough for some because genetics love to mess it all up.

Think about this, all dogs have about 44 teeth. From your Great Dane to your Yorkie. Now think about the mouth size. The yorkie still has to fit in as many teeth as a great dane but with less room in their mouth to work with. So of course yorkies are going to have more dental issues and the smaller the mouth, the more crowded the teeth are and the more possibilities of dental problems.

Bottom line is find what works for you and your dog and stick with it.

Genetics may pay a role. But brushing is helping everyday vs not. You may need dentals more often. Great Danes also have alot bigger teeth so they maybe just as crowded in proportion. But it would be easier to brush. IMO regardless not brushing there teeth to me isn't gonna help.Brushing will help more then less. Maynot work as well on one dog vs the other but it will. To me thats like saying a Yorkie can't run cuz there to small?? They need exercise also. I also see ppl who won't let there dogs run JMO everyone may not agree

Hi all, all the way from the UK

I have read with interest the comments about dental costs and feeding raw meat.

I agree that sometimes vets will charge the earth for dental work and this was proved with my vet. Molly went to be spayed and I asked the vet to give her teeth a quick check and clean whilst she was asleep. The vet this could not be done and it would be another job at cost of £150.00!!! Vets know how to charge these days.

With regards to feeding raw food, Molly, won't eat any meat at all except sausage!!! she was a rescue dog and just will not eat meat of fish of any description except a grilled sausage. She only eats fruit, veg and rice and loves a cup of tea. My vet has said that as she has gained weight (she was very under nourished and in poor health when I adopted her) and is a picture of health there is nothing wrong with giving her pork.

Many years ago and today is still a favourite with breeders fresh raw meat is the most natural food for a dog to eat as is chewing on a good meaty bone.

If Molly would eat meat, she would get fresh raw meat every day along with her fruit and veg of course (I wish my kids and loved them so much when they were little!!)

Best Cat and Dog Nutrition (BCDN) by Roger Biduk This is a very thorough and extensive 37 page website about holistic veterinary, cat/dog nutrition and what pet food companies and veterinarians don't or won't tell you. It will always be a a little information on food and diet