My dog has tartar and black lines on his teeth. What should I do?

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do not see anything urgent regarding Harley Mason's teeth! The red spot in the back could be from an injury, from chewing on something or from tartar touching the gums. You can take your time scheduling a dental cleaning. Have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sallie’s teeth in the picture look fantastic! The black you are seeing is just pigment of her gums. Bad teeth have an red gum line or are purple looking compared to the other teeth. For dental care I recommend daily brushing, either with a finger or regular tooth brush. Always use a dog toothpaste as dogs cannot have fluoride. Daily brushing is best and is better than the dental chews. A lot of dental disease is based on genetics, so some dogs are more prone to bad teeth than others. Even with daily brushing, Sallie still may require a professional cleaning every 1-2 years. It is recommended for humans to have twice a year cleanings and we brush our teeth everyday. I would keep up the excellent work and have your vet look at her teeth twice yearly to discuss further monitoring. Kisses to Sallie!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Joshie's tartar build up isn't that bad. I think the best thing for you to do if you do not want to anesthetize him to clean the teeth is to be as aggressive as possible to prevent further tartar build up. Some dogs will allow you to try and scrape the tartar off with your nail or the Vet with instruments. But honestly they have to be VERY good as no one wants to get bit. So I would focus on prevention. He should have his teeth brushed at a MINIMUM of 3 days a week. I would put him on Hill's t/d food and take a look at this link from the Veterinary Oral Health Council on accepted products: http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html I would try to buy a dog tooth paste but the paste you are making should be fine. I hope this helps and I wish you and Joshie the best!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While you didn't ask a specific question about Tanner I am assuming you are concerned about the black discoloration of his teeth. This is likely calculus accumulation and dental disease. Bad breath is usually associated with bacteria in the mouth from dental disease as well. While I don't think this is an emergency based on the photo you provided, I recommend you take Tanner in to see his vet soon. He would benefit from a dental exam and your vet will likely recommend a cleaning to remove the calculus and tartar on his teeth. Dental disease is one of the most common issues in small breed dogs and is very common. Removing the calculus now will help keep his teeth healthy longer and will definitely improve his breath! .

Brushing teeth is definitely the best way to avoid periodontal disease in the future but unfortunately if the tartar has already build up can be hard/not possible to remove it completely just with brushing. Tartar is rock hard and if you don't see any improvement, the next step would be a professional dental hygiene session (descale and polish). Your veterinarian will provide this service. Leo will need to be under anesthesia (they won't keep the mouth open for us while descaling and polishing!) during the procedure. In the meantime and after the procedure please continue with the brushing! Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.

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!