My dog has bad teeth, suggestions?

[Folly's place]

Don't start trying to brush his teeth until after they are cleaned, and his gums heal. then' brushing will be a big help, extending the time between professional veterinary dental cleanings. And, like the rest of us, his next ten years won't be without dental care needed!
Keeping his mouth healthy matters a lot in keeping the rest of him in good shape!
Mary

 

[chickentrains]

RAW MEATY BONESS!!!!!!!

they're a life saver.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'd recommend doing a vet cleaning first as well. Than you can work on brushing and chews. Bad teeth can lead to heart disease, liver failure and kidney problems. Dogs can often feel miserable with bad teeth and you can't tell because they hide pain well. I get my dogs teeth cleaned as necessary, and brush their teeth a couple of times a week. There's also sprays you can use that does about the same as brushing.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Can dogs get cavities? That one tooth almost looks like one. Doesn’t look right. I’d take him in.

 

[Weeg]

Thanks everyone, this was the response I was expecting. I agree, his teeth definitely don't look normal. I'll work on getting him a vet appointment to see what they say.
Poor pup, dental appts. are the worst!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Vet, definitely. Also, my vet showed me how to wrap gauze around my finger to use as a toothbrush. You use canine toothpaste which is meat flavored, so the dog likes it and doesn't resist. Doesn't take much training, just learn how to do it, and do it faithfully and consistently. Your dog will thank you!

 

[Quatie]

There is also an additive you can add to their water as well. Breathalyser water additive is what my vet gave me after my dog needed teeth pulled. You can buy it online. I use it with teeth brushing. I found it helps a bit.

Once they are trained for brushing, my dogs loved it. They think they are getting a treat.

Best of luck with your vet appointment.

 

[Weeg]

Thanks again for all the suggestions! I'll definitely look into all the suggested approaches. I do appreciate your opinions on the topic and insight not the best approach moving forward. Thanks again!

 

[Isadora]

I definitely agree that you should take him to the vet to get that tartar removed. As far as I know, there are no home remedies that will work to remove the tartar, It needs to be removed mechanically. Then once his mouth isn't sore (probably after a week or so) you can start introducing him to a brushing routine. If you brush his teeth consistently, hopefully you will never be in this situation again.
It's great that you're keeping an eye on these types of things! It's one area of health that a lot of pet owners don't even think about.

 

[addctd2plnts]

I know the current phase people are in is to never let their dog chew on anything. But in 20 years of fostering dogs, we've always used rawhides. We've never had a dog choke and there are times I've had 30 foster dogs at a time! I get many dogs I think are going to need professional cleaning. then a month after having nightly access to rawhides, their teeth look so good they don't need it. The rawhides available now are not like the ones 20 years ago. they are made differently and dissolve better. We hand them out after they eat, and they chew while we are watching TV. At bedtime, I pick them all up, till the next day. Of the many types we've tried, these are the two that are liked the best by the dozen dogs we have: https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-naturals-bully-twizzle-stix-7/dp/45954 and https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-peanut-butter-filled-rolled/dp/46150

After a month, most dogs gums and teeth will be 75% better. In 20 years, I've had 2 dogs that seem to have an inherited tendency to have inflammed gums. They are also the only ones that will get bad breath. Those may need professional cleaning, and brushing, with a chlorohexidene based gel.