Hi! My 15 month old dog has some plaque build up on his teeth (see pictures) and we are wondering if we are at the point where we need to take him in for a professional cleaning? He can’t have dental chews as he has a very sensitive stomach. He doesn’t have the best breath either. Any recommendations? Thanks!
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Hi and thanks for using PetCoach. I would recommend taking Oliver in for an exam by his veterinarian to assess if a dental cleaning should be performed. There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration more than just the amount of tartar on his teeth. Ideally, COHAT (complete oral health assessment and treatment) should be done annually for most dogs, but as this requires anesthesia it must be weighed against the animal's overall health. I do not recommend "anesthesia free dentals" that some groomers or non-veterinarians may offer. There is plenty of research that shows this type of cleaning may give a cosmetic, white teeth, but actually harms the teeth and is worse for Oliver's health. The amount of tartar buildup on Oliver's teeth is not excessive but it is great that you are keeping an eye on it. Next time he is in for an exam, I would recommend bringing it up to discuss with his vet. Some more info on veterinarypartner.com
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=168http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=128
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This is a minor amount of tartar so I would not have a dental cleaning yet. You can clean his teeth with water and a gauze or finger tooth brush to remove the plaque and slow down the tartar buildup. If he can tolerate dog tooth paste then use that also. That will improve his breath too. There are also antibacterial dental rinses that will reduce the mouth bacteria and the mouth odor. Thanks for using PetCoach to help you care for Oliver.
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