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11-21-2008, 05:40 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northeast, AL USA
Posts: 254
| Brushing Teeth, Food, and Nutra-Cal I hope you don't mind me asking all these in one thread. Just some questions I have on my mind. Brushing Teeth - How old do you start this and what do I use? I did a forum search, but all the info is so overwhelming to me. Maximus was 11 weeks old yesterday. Food - Ultimately, I know home cooking is the best. Maximus was weaned from his mommy to Purina Puppy Chow which is what I continue to use. His stools are pretty solid, so it makes for an easy clean up. Looking at another thread, I am thinking that it doesn't get a really good "grade". Any other suggestions? or would you stick with the Puppy Chow? My vet gave me a sample of IAMS, but when I called back to ask about it, the tech said that if he is doing well on the Puppy Chow it was fine, plus, changing his food may create loose stools. Nutri-Cal - My vet also put him on Nutri-Cal. Four to five times a day for a month, then as needed. Is this just a preventive measure? I feed him 3 times a day, about 1/3 c every meal (although, he doesn't finish it all the time) and I usually have to sit there with him or he gets preoccupied playing. lol Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!
__________________ Kendra, mommy to... Maximus & lil' Miss Diva Chloe |
Welcome Guest! | |
11-21-2008, 05:48 AM | #2 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| You can start brushing teeth at any age. I use CET vanilla-mint toothpaste and a toddler toothbrush. I would switch foods and not to Iams. I have heard some reports of loose stools with Wellness lately, so you may want to avoid that or don't buy a big bag to start. Every dog is different and they have individual sensitivities. I think Natural Balance is fair along with Innova and California Natural. If I "had" to feed a food from one of the major companies (Purina, Iams/Eukanubs, Science Diet, Pedigree, Royal Canin), it would most likely be Science Diet Nature's Best but it isn't a great food in my opinion. I like Evangers canned foods. Some people use Nutrical for pups often and others only use it or some other sugary product if the dog is having a hypoglycemic attack. I only gave something to Ellie when she was shaky and I thought there might be a problem. There are good arguments on both sides, but to constantly give sugar like that, especially without much protein, may create a problem. A small amount of canned food would probably be sufficient at the times when the vet wants you to give Nutrical and I would think that would be healthier but you don't want your pup to crash either, so if you really trust your vet, maybe you should go with what he/she says.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
11-21-2008, 12:44 PM | #3 |
♥♥beats @ my feet! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: PA
Posts: 4,814
| Mo was 3 when I got him and I doubt he ever had a toothbrush in his mouth. I tried with Mayzie from the time she was just a pup. I haven't had much success with a toothbrush but I recently started using finger toothbrush gloves. They are more tolerant of those at this point. If I can "graduate" to a toothbrush I will be happy.
__________________ Jamie, Mom to Mayzie and Mozes |
11-24-2008, 10:27 AM | #4 |
YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ & NY
Posts: 356
| Duke is a 13 months and I have tried many times to brush his teeth with the gloves thing but no success. He would rather bite my fingers. So now, I just use a cloth to clean his teeth after I feed him. Food-wise - I too kept Duke on Bil Jac, what the breeder was feeding him for 1 year now and recently read on here that Bil Jac isn't so good either. I started to mix his dry food with Merck's can food and he had loose stool, really loose. So for now, I'm slowly switching him, I think it's really what your dog responses well to. Nutrical - I was instructed to feed him a few times a day when he was younger, I still keep a good tube around now but only when he's not eating.
__________________ *Owned by a Yorkie name Duke* |
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