Do apples, carrots, or yams really clean my dog's teeth effectively?

HI, thanks for using Petcoach! I am sorry Ziggy is sick! Sadly there isn't a perfect treat to keep a dogs teeth clean. Veterinary dentists recommend brushing their teeth AT LEAST three times per week. Anything less isn't doing anything. If Ziggy has a lot of tartar build up already then it is best to have an anesthetic (put under) dental to have his teeth cleaned, X-rayed and extracted if infected. Then brushing his teeth 3 or more times per week will hopefully keep the tartar away. Below is a link to the Veterinary Oral Health Councils recommend products. I hope this helps and good luck! http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf

Hello, you'll likely need to scale the tartar accumulation off of his back teeth so that you can have an easier time keeping them clean. Ideally, after their teeth have been scaled, brushing their teeth and using dental treats may help keep their teeth clean and white the longest. As in humans, dogs should have a dental exam at least every 6-12 months with a scaling and polishing as needed. Brushing daily and dental chews such as OraVet have worked the best for my clients in the past. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! One of the best ways to maintain dental health is with regular teeth brushing, at least several times a week. Because Korbyn is fairly young, it will be possible to train him to accept having his teeth brushed by providing plenty of praise and treats during the process. Treats can also be given to supplement brushing, you should look for treats that have enzymatic properties as well as ones that take a while to chew, as this action strengthens the jaw and removes tartar. I also recommend keeping Korbyn on dry food to promote good dental condition. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Daily brushing with a pet approved tooth paste and toothbrush and dental chews are more effective than a water additive. When looking at dental products, search for the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval. Use the chart at the link below to find acceptable dental chews. http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html

You can get an enzymatic doggie tooth paste from your veterinarian which only needs to be applied to the teeth and does not need brushing. Once tartar is on the teeth this will likely not be removed by any tooth paste. You can also let him chew some Greenies which helps also. Yorkies notoriously have bad teeth, so they do need regular cleaning and also dental cleaning at the vet's office.

The most important part of a home dental care program is actually just brushing the teeth at all and does not seem to make a difference which toothpaste is used unless you use a proven toothpaste. There are actually only 2 toothpastes on the market that have been proven to help improve dental health in dogs. I am attaching a list of approved dental products below. http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf So, I would recommend purchasing PetSmile or Essential Healthy Mouth if you are going to use a toothpaste. I have found that homemade toothpastes are not very good tasting (so it makes it harder for you to brush the teeth) and would recommend using a good brush without any toothpaste instead of making a homemade toothpaste. I am attaching a link to a handout below which includes a detailed discussion on home dental care including products for cleaning the teeth. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=640 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. t/d diet, dentisticks and other dental care treats have minimal beneficial effect if any. Cleaning teeth daily and regular dental checks work much better. Please, stick to that, as dental care diets are in my opinion, not worth the money.