My dog has bad teeth. Should I go to a vet or pet store for cleaning?

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.

That's quite a bit of tarter buildup, and it would be best to have Joshie examined by a vet to determine if she is a good candidate for a dental cleaning. Dental cleanings often involve having your pet go under anesthesia so that the teeth can be thoroughly cleaned and any damaged or infected teeth removed safely. February was pet dental health month (at least in the US), and many veterinary clinics extend dental discount packages into March, so now is the perfect time to schedule a visit and check it out. At home, brushing is always a good idea, and there are many pet toothpastes available that are palatable and can encourage your pet to get their teeth brushed (never use human toothpaste as it is toxic to pets). You can also spread some on a dental chew or other "scrubby" like chew toy to help clean the teeth. Chews like nylabones, Kongs, etc, that encourage your dog to use their teeth can help. There are also prescription diets available from your vet such as t/d which is designed specifically to improve dental health and clean the teeth while eating. It would be hard to predict lifespan, but if you're working to clean your dog's teeth and keep her healthier, then that is always going to help.

Oscar has a significant amount of tartar buildup on his tooth. His other teeth are likely in similar condition. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian then have a complete dental cleaning. Dental x-rays should be done to have a look below the gum line. A dentistry requires general anesthesia, so blood work may be recommended beforehand.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Riddick. Thank also for providing pictures, they are very helpful. I see some swelling of his gums around those moles and a fair amount of plaque. Daily brushing will not correct this. He does need to see a vet for a dental cleaning, polishing, and scaling. I'd give his vet a call in the morning to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

I am so sorry that your pet has dental disease and a heart condition. Unfortunatley the tartar that causes dental disease is mostly underneath the gumline, hence the name periodontal disease. So most of the tartar that we see on the surface of the tooth is not the main issue here. It is the tartar that is touching the gum and underneath the gum that is the problem. This isn't tartar that you will be able to get off with the pet awake, because it will be uncomfortable for the pet. Also, you have a good chance of causing damage to the gum trying to do this in any awake dog. What you are asking is not possible unfortunatley. However, there are a number of heart dogs that can actually go under anesthesia for a dental cleaning, even with a heart condition. I would suggest taking Chhutki to get an echocardiogram of her heart to determine if she is a good candidate for anesthesia and then go from there. If she isn't, then the only thing you can really do here is to do a daily oral rinse and water additive such as this one --> https://www.chewy.com/nylabone-advanced-oral-care-liquid/dp/47912 Dental disease and at home care recommendations --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951515 I do hope that your pet Chhutki proves to be ok to go under general anesthesia, just like many other heart disease pets, and can appropriateliy address her dental disease condition. Best of luck moving forward. Take care. : )

You have some great questions, and I will answer them in order :-) 1. Yes, a proper dental cleaning will require full anesthesia. It is never recommended to do a dental cleaning without it. It's dangerous and painful to the dog to do it this way, and a dental cleaning should only be done by a vet. 2. A water additive is a great addition to a dog's dental hygiene plan. I recommend Arm & Hammer dental water additive, you can get it at a pet store. Additionally, you can call your vet to ask for the name of the one they gave you for Giorgio. 3. I recommend the CET brand of toothbrushes and paste. You can probably get them at your vet's office or a pet store. 4. I recommend for treats Hill's t/d. It's a food, but you can give individual pieces as treats and it helps with his teeth. There are also dental chews. 5. No, I do not recommend trying to remove his tartar yourself. You can brush, but like with humans, he will still need a dental cleaning to get rid of all the tartar. Trying to remove the tartar yourself can hurt him, but do brush his teeth to keep them as clean as possible. I hope this helps!

It's great that you are thinking about Charlottes dental health. Your vet will examine Charlotte and then give you a plan to do the dental cleaning. Care credit is a good option for things like dental care that allow you to pay it off over time, often with no interest. Otherwise there are low cost clinics in many cities that often will do dental cleanings at a lower rate or based on your income.