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Post by vickyb on May 13, 2015 5:05:24 GMT -5
There really is nothing better than regular brushing. It isn't just greys, I've seen dogs in our vets with vile teeth and the owners just seem to think it's normal. Years ago we had a collie GSD x and he had fantastic teeth and he wasn't fed any different really nor did we clean his teeth, just the luck of the draw to some degree I think but greyhounds aren't blessed with strong teeth.
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Post by samburns on May 13, 2015 6:51:54 GMT -5
I'm afraid they are due to the diet they have when they are pups and young dogs. Does it differ wildly to 'standard' dog food? I think the main problem is that where greyhounds are kept in kennels with maybe 50 + dogs, they feed in the quickest way possible. They tend to soak the kibble so that when it is served it is a mush that can be gulped down. The effect on the teeth is that the dogs don't use them as they are intended...in fact don't need to use them at all to eat. The mush will also stick to the teeth causing plaque build up, decay and gum disease. Most of the greyhounds I have homed have not known how to chew at all. They didn't know what to do with a pig's ear, or a bone, quite often they've simply never had them. Sadly some homing organisations also advise greys are fed as above, perpetuating the problem. A raw bone is excellent for helping dogs to clean their own teeth. It must always be under supervision. I've actually switched all my dogs to a raw diet, not just to help their teeth but it is definitely one of the benefits. |
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Post by orlaka on May 18, 2015 14:47:48 GMT -5
When we got Loot first checked over the vet basically said... everything looks good except for his mouth. He gave me a £500 estimate for half of them coming out and a full clean, which I consider to be about 6yrs of dental care that he's never had. Didn't want to book it immediately after the upheaval of rehoming so going back next month to book him in- vet didn't make it seem like it was urgent but after reading this thread I'm a bit worried! He isn't at all keen on me touching his muzzle so we're working up to tooth brushing slowly with baby steps and treats, but he's never going to have a dazzling smile.
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