Why does my 4-year-old dog have tartar? Does coconut oil help?

No, coconut oil will not help with your dogs' breath. Coconut oil has no proven medical benefits in dogs and can cause pancreatitis in some dogs. Instead, I recommend brushing their teeth with a small kid-sized toothbrush, using first water to brush the outer surfaces of their teeth, followed by a smear of dog toothpaste. Brushing daily is the most effective way to prevent dental disease and improve breath. If Enzo and his buddy's teeth have a significant amount of tartar accumulation causing the breath issues, they may need to have dental cleanings performed by their vet to first get the tartar under control. Dental bones can absolutely help further tartar accumulation, but brushing is the most effective method of dental home care.

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!

I wouldn’t recommend using this combination to brush your dog’s teeth. While the coconut oil probably tastes good, it will just add unwanted calories to your dog’s diet, even if you are using a small amount. And the baking soda will be too harsh and abrasive for your dog. Instead I would recommend a toothpaste specifically made for dog’s. Or, you don’t even have to use toothpaste at all! The most important part of brushing a dog’s teeth is the mechanical action of brushing away the plaque that builds up on the teeth! If you do this daily it will go a long way to helping your dog’s teeth stay nice and healthy. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Dental biscuits are the best, they help tarts build up as the dog naturally chews through them. There are lots of brands that you can choose from, my preference goes to Royal Canine dental biscuits for small dogs.

What I see in your pictures looks like tartar buildup. It happens more frequently in smaller breeds and is sometimes associated with feeding wet food. Getting her teeth cleaned by your vet will remove the tartar (you can't clean it off by yourself, it's adhered firmly to the teeth) and ensure she remains healthy for longer. Tartar buildup will trap more material, irritate the gums, breed bacteria, leading to foul breath, gum and even heart disease, as the irritated gum allow the bacteria to get into the bloodstream more easily. I recommend getting her in to see your vet for an exam and bloodwork to see how well she'll tolerate anesthesia. She will have to be anesthetized for the procedure. Trust me, this is in everyone's best interests. It greatly reduces the stress for your dog and keeps the veterinary staff from getting bitten by a frightened dog. They will remove the tartar with a scaler, polish the teeth to make it more difficult for new tartar to adhere and most likely recommend some treatments you can do at home to help slow the rate at which tartar collects on her teeth in the future.

No, it doesn't. I would get a toothbrush and paste for Rocky Road. Make sure it's a dog toothpaste and brush. I recommend the CET brand of pet dental products. You can find them online or in a pet store. I hope this helps!

Hello, It does appear that Chhutki has tartar and plaque accumulation on her teeth. It's unfortunate she cannot have an anesthetic dental cleaning due to her heart disease. I do not know of parabens causing any health problems in dogs. I believe its best to use the dentagel oil as your vet prescribed. I think this will be the most effective possible treatment in her case. Unfortunately, there is no natural remedy to dental disease. The smell is from the tartar and bacterial growth in the mouth. Raw carrots may be good for chewing, but they will not cure the problem. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.