dental cleaning

[Ashley V]

I'm going to have to schedule a dental cleaning for Chip AND Smokey. Smokey isn't so bad, which I believe is because he is always chewing on some sort of bone or bully stick, but Chip is getting kinda nasty. Neither of them will let me brush their teeth. Smokey clenches and refuses to open and I've tried many different kinds of brushes and flavored toothpastes. Chip just keeps moving his jaws and uses his tongue to push the brush out of his mouth, which makes it impossible for me to brush. I'm nervous! They are going to the vet this Saturday for a check up because I was to make sure the vet thinks they are both healthy enough to go through with it. Still doesn't calm my nerves a whole lot... any thoughts?

[MaddiesMommie]

Maddie just went through her first dental and she did fantastic! I was worried because it took her a few days to get over the anesthesia from her spay. But she was her same ole self when I picked her up. I also learned they are not as sedated for this procedure. Glad you are having check-up done. This does in include blood work I hope. They will do great!

[alaskayorkie]

Sounds like you're going about it the right way (well, with the exception of wimping out on brushing. ) Glad you're getting a checkup first.

My vet says healthy gums and clean teeth are worth the small risk of putting them under. Gum disease can lead to much worse problems as they age, so keep them clean and they're likely to be healthier in the long run.

[Ellie May]

As long as a good anesthetic protocol is used, all should be just fine. I'm sure they're both healthy, but sometimes dentals are even recommended for unhealthy pups because excess bacteria in the mouth can make their other health issues worse or cause new ones. Best to fix it before it hurts them...

[Ashley V]

It does include blood work and all of that fun stuff. Chip was neutered with me and he did fine under anesthesia. Smokey was neutered before me, so I don't even know what to expect with him. And taking both in at the same day - I'm going to be a wreck! I feel better knowing that they aren't heavily sedated for this procedure. I brought our cat in for a dental before she died for a dental and she was fine. At the time though, Chip was deathly sick from a vaccine reaction, so I don't remember too much about what happened with her.

If anyone has any tips on how to brush their impossible dogs teeth, please feel free to share. It's not that I'm unwilling, I just get no where with them except for teeth marks and doggie saliva all over my hands from trying to keep their mouths open and still.

[Nimue]

Thank-you for these posts. My little girl is going in for her first dental cleaning (just had her check-up) and I've been worried. She was sick for a good three days after she was spayed and she has some liver issues, so I was scared to schedule this appointment. I feel better after reading these posts.

I'll be thinking of Chip and Smokey.

Brushing my girl's teeth is an ordeal, too. I've resorted to the finger cot things, but she'll only tolerate that for a little while. I have to do her teeth in "installments", lol!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

It does include blood work and all of that fun stuff. Chip was neutered with me and he did fine under anesthesia. Smokey was neutered before me, so I don't even know what to expect with him. And taking both in at the same day - I'm going to be a wreck! I feel better knowing that they aren't heavily sedated for this procedure. I brought our cat in for a dental before she died for a dental and she was fine. At the time though, Chip was deathly sick from a vaccine reaction, so I don't remember too much about what happened with her.

If anyone has any tips on how to brush their impossible dogs teeth, please feel free to share. It's not that I'm unwilling, I just get no where with them except for teeth marks and doggie saliva all over my hands from trying to keep their mouths open and still.

I would go for the dental. Pnut just had his and he is 3 years old. I was a stress ball, but in the end it was worth it! I tried to look in there and the two molars kinda in the front, those were like 80% covered in yuck. Soo I took him in, did the pre blood work, and the IV. Also the antibiotics to go home. Now his breath smells so good! It really smells like nothing and his teeth are nice and white.

If you can try to get someone to help hold Chip while you try to brush, thats what I do. DH will help me hold Pnut and I am able to get a little done, but I am not able to do a "good job".

Good luck with Chip and Smokey!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Get that dental and relax if you can. My babies have had it since I found out they have been doing them and yes, I worry some every time they go under but they have never had a problem to date with the anesthesia or procedure. Then, teach yourself how to brush your dog's teeth. Tibbe was wild when I got him, trusted no one and fought me like a tiger cub when I first tried to brush his teeth but we worked up to it little by little every single day until he would let me touch the brush to a tooth, etc., and for 2 years now, he gets his teeth brushed just about every day and then he gets a treat(a piece of kibble), hugs, screams of joy(yeah, over the top) and a celebration and he dances all over the floor happy that he has just made his dorky momma so happy. It can take a boatload of persistence and determination on your part and the dang thing is, you cannot get tense or emotional while you are trying to do all of this. You have to divorce yourself from them kind of and become the vet nurse and just clinically approach it using an itty bitty kind voice to coach them along as you make each further intrusive move and then coo how goooood they are and don't praise effusively until you are done that session, as you want to keep them calm until all done. Be as gentle as if you were brushing an eyeball or something when you do actually access that tiny sensitive mouth at first and then later you can get somewhat more vigorous brushing as they learn to tolerate it. Don't get me wrong - Tibbe still doesn't like it but he comes to me and let's me brush his teeth if for nothing more than to get his huge payoff and watch me act nutty. My first little Yorkie back in the early 1980's got an abscessed tooth(it burst through the actual skin of his little cheek!) and 2 extractions because I did not know about Yorkie dental disease(no excuse) but after that awful experience, I learned to brush teeth in the tiniest, tenderest mouth. Get the tiniest tooth brush you can. Tibbe's is a cat tooth brush and I change it when the bristles get dried out/worn - about every 3 mos. Best of luck with your dentals. I hope this helps some.

[Ashley V]

Thanks everyone!

I ended up getting their dentals done this past Saturday. They did good, but the vet's office gave me a heart attack early in the morning - they run the blood work no earlier than a day before the cleaning, so they just did it that morning. I had asked them before I left if they call to let me know the blood work is fine and she said "no news is good news". Well 2 hours later I get a phone call from the vet's office, so of course I answered and the woman says "It's about Chip..." my heart stopped because between the two dogs, Chip has had the most health issues. Smokey has had absolutely nothing wrong with him in the 3 years we've had him. She heard my panic I guess and was like "OH NO nothing critical!" He had to have a tooth extracted. She said it was loose and his roots were exposed. I hung up with them and cried. My poor baby was having a tooth pulled and he wasn't ever going to get another one. On the other hand I am SO relieved that we did the cleaning when we did, so they could catch that tooth issue when they did, before it caused any other, more severe problems. I'm of course thinking it was one of the larger teeth in the back so I went to the pet store and picked out an organic wet food for him to chomp on while his gums heal... I go to pick him up and the tooth was one of the itty bitty tiny ones in the very front! I still feel bad that he's missing a tooth, but I'm grateful that it's not one of the other teeth that really helps him chew and eat. Both of the dogs were so sleepy when I got them home. Smokey didn't even care about barking at any of the other dogs at the vet. They both were dragging me back to the car. They slept almost a full 24 hours without a peep from them, especially Smokey. Their teeth are pearly white and they've almost got their puppy breath back - not that I can smell very well with this sinus infection.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Oh, I'm so glad you did it, that bad old tooth is gone and the sleeping beauties are well over it. Chip can just brag to everyone that he lost the tooth in a good fight!

[scollins]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Get that dental and relax if you can. My babies have had it since I found out they have been doing them and yes, I worry some every time they go under but they have never had a problem to date with the anesthesia or procedure. Then, teach yourself how to brush your dog's teeth. Tibbe was wild when I got him, trusted no one and fought me like a tiger cub when I first tried to brush his teeth but we worked up to it little by little every single day until he would let me touch the brush to a tooth, etc., and for 2 years now, he gets his teeth brushed just about every day and then he gets a treat(a piece of kibble), hugs, screams of joy(yeah, over the top) and a celebration and he dances all over the floor happy that he has just made his dorky momma so happy. It can take a boatload of persistence and determination on your part and the dang thing is, you cannot get tense or emotional while you are trying to do all of this. You have to divorce yourself from them kind of and become the vet nurse and just clinically approach it using an itty bitty kind voice to coach them along as you make each further intrusive move and then coo how goooood they are and don't praise effusively until you are done that session, as you want to keep them calm until all done. Be as gentle as if you were brushing an eyeball or something when you do actually access that tiny sensitive mouth at first and then later you can get somewhat more vigorous brushing as they learn to tolerate it. Don't get me wrong - Tibbe still doesn't like it but he comes to me and let's me brush his teeth if for nothing more than to get his huge payoff and watch me act nutty. My first little Yorkie back in the early 1980's got an abscessed tooth(it burst through the actual skin of his little cheek!) and 2 extractions because I did not know about Yorkie dental disease(no excuse) but after that awful experience, I learned to brush teeth in the tiniest, tenderest mouth. Get the tiniest tooth brush you can. Tibbe's is a cat tooth brush and I change it when the bristles get dried out/worn - about every 3 mos. Best of luck with your dentals. I hope this helps some.

Thank you for your comments. I recently posted that I didn't have much luck with brushing Joey's teeth, so I just didn't. But after I saw my own words in print, I checked Joey's mouth and OMG! At 2 years old he has heavy plaque in front teeth (uppers) and it is beginning to show on the side teeth. I was shocked. I read your post and put that together with what his teeth look like and have vowed to start working on his teeth today and to do a little each day. One question. Can I get in there, little each day, with any kind of probing tool/device and gently scrape away the build up myself? Or is a vet dental the only way to get it off? Thanks again.

[scollins]

This is a note to the web master/ moderator. I posted a message yesterday and I couldn't see it today. I thought it was appropriate and pleasant. What am I doing wrong. I'm not very familiar with the site, I only just signed up. Please let me know. This is an important source of comfort for owners. Thanks, you can also reach me at my personal email. Steve Collins

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by scollins

This is a note to the web master/ moderator. I posted a message yesterday and I couldn't see it today. I thought it was appropriate and pleasant. What am I doing wrong. I'm not very familiar with the site, I only just signed up. Please let me know. This is an important source of comfort for owners. Thanks, you can also reach me at my personal email. Steve Collins

Steve, my understanding is some posts from new accounts are randomly screened and temporarily delayed to make sure they are from legitimate users. There's a significant spammer element. Once approved, they will appear where you posted them, and the screening process will expire after a short period. You can Private Message admin if you want to contact them directly.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by scollins

Thank you for your comments. I recently posted that I didn't have much luck with brushing Joey's teeth, so I just didn't. But after I saw my own words in print, I checked Joey's mouth and OMG! At 2 years old he has heavy plaque in front teeth (uppers) and it is beginning to show on the side teeth. I was shocked. I read your post and put that together with what his teeth look like and have vowed to start working on his teeth today and to do a little each day. One question. Can I get in there, little each day, with any kind of probing tool/device and gently scrape away the build up myself? Or is a vet dental the only way to get it off? Thanks again.

Just like with your teeth, we all need a good dental cleaning by a professional regularly and then we do our due diligence daily. It is the same with your dog. Get a dental examination and cleaning to start and then just work with the patience of a saint with your dog to habituate him to the process a bit at a time. He won't like it at first and will never likely love it but he will have good, strong healthy teeth and gums if you will stick to a good brush/professional check-up and cleaning schedule. Tibbe now sees me get out his toothbrush and toothpaste and comes and stands in front of me until I pick him up. He gets lots of hugs and kisses and a big play session after each brushing so I guess it is worth it all to him. Best of luck to you and little Joey and I hope he has a pretty smile very soon!!!