Dental care. Which raw bones are best?

[123lurcherlover]

I need a bit of help please. Max my forever foster is 15. I dont think hes ever been shown a toothbrush, and his mouth is quite unhealthy. Im now brushing/massaging gums with a lintbels and he has plaque off in dinner. Ive started him on raw, and he munches chicken necks and drumsticks etc but I tried him with a ?beef hip bone sawn, however im not sure its the best for teeth cleaning. Also, someone mentioned a groomer could clean his teeth, but im not sure. Has anyone exp of groomers? Due to age and not seeming to be in pain, id like to avoid a dental. ( The vet suggested dental, vacs & castrate, but i dont want to put him thro that. Hes a very happy boy, and Id just like him to continue enjoying life, however long it is for him.

[andywillow]

I thought plaque off was useless. Neem powder is much better and cheaper too! Large marrow bones are good for them to gnaw on, although last time I got some for my lot half of them weren't bothered with them!
I don't feed raw so can't comment on other bones. I've also got a dental chisel and have picked plaque off myself with that.

[brooke1]

I can't get Brooke to eat raw bones, she won't touch raw meat either - just looks at me as if to say 'I'm a princess don't you know?'

[123lurcherlover]

LOL Brooke sounds like Milly, she will only eat tripe, and backs away suspiciously when presented with a raw bone. Ill try the Neem powder. Bless max, ive had a look with a torch, they are really disgusting

[burnsider]

May 23, 2014 3:55:06 GMT -5 andywillow said:

Neem powder is much better and cheaper too! 

Is that Neem Leaf or Bark powder? Can I ask where you buy it? Many of the cheaper powders I've seen are leaf and suggest they are only used as flea/tick treatment  or skin conditioners for dogs. It's a minefield!!
Thanks.

[julies]

It's the powdered bark Burnsider Apparently the Neem tree has different properties depending on which bit you use .. the leaf was supposed to be good for intestinal problems and I wondered if my horse had ulcers so fed her some ... she bucked me off so I stopped it LOL

Neem Genie's Bark is very good, Clare I sell the Bark if you want to pop in on a Saturday and collect some but as we're not training next week (Lucy's on a Self Control course hahaha) I'll drop you a pot in if you PM me?

I use the marrowbones from TPMS to clean their teeth .. they're the weight bearing knuckle bones with lots of bits of meat and cartiledge on so the dog really has to gnaw with all his teefs Just don't let them chew at the bone cos the weight bearing bones are very strong nd that's when there's a chane of broken teeth but excellent for teeth cleaning

Max is just a star, glad to hear he's going strong but what is the vet thinking of - wanting to risk an old boy with anasethetic??

Jools xx

[123lurcherlover]

Thanks Jools, im so excited! Max's disgusting teeth have improved since using 'natures toothbrush' AKA knuckle bones!! Thick hard chunks of brown plaque have cracked off, and his gums are much less inflamed. Im such a bore, I keep showing people. ( Deb popped in, she was bored! ) Im v interested in the neem rather than the rubbish plaque off. Ill PM as Lucy is demonstrating self control tomorrow, rather than training you at sat class.
The Vet was about ten and a half, so I smiled, let her book the apt on her screen, walked into reception and asked when he was chipped, pet log showed 1999, and I promptly cancelled.
Just need a 'cure' for his very, very offensive windy-pops.