Dear Greyhound - Dental Issues






Hi,

We rescued our greyhound a little over 2 years ago. We have been feeding her Natural Choice lamb and rice and mixing it with Natural Choice dental care. It was recommended to mix these two types of dog foods to aid in her care of her teeth (we do brush twice a week minimum), she also receives a dental treat once daily (this is just a crunchy treat which she eats in about 1 minute), some sort of dental treat on the weekend - this could be a dental raw hide, greenies, or iams dental bone. She is not a fan of bones or raw hides which she has to chew on - we had a bone for over 2 years that she rarely chewed on - we finally threw it away. Unfortunately, our Petco is no longer going to carry the large bag of the dental care. We have been unsuccessful at locating another store in our area which even carries Natural Choice dog food. Is there another brand which you recommend or maybe another food regimen that you would recommend.

Thanks for your time and assist in advance,
Katie

Hi Katie,

I spoke with a friend of mine who has 2 adopted Greyhounds, Fin and Cricket. Fin has problems with his teeth, so she has done a lot of investigating and has the following advice.

She recommended that you brush your dog’s teeth every night, two times a week isn't enough. She suggested using a mixture of warm salt water and a splash of peroxide, dip your dog’s tooth brush in it and brush his teeth with it. She suggested also brushing his teeth every night, or every other night if that is not doable with dog toothpaste.

A good Dog food you can use is called Hills TD and you can only get it from a vet's office, it costs about $54.00 a bag Canadian. It’s expensive but helps to keep dog teeth healthy and reduces plaque.

Raw bones work as well, but they really need to be fresh, throw them away after 3-4 days. Smear the bone with something your dog likes and that may make them more interesting and use knuckle bones, those help to get at difficult areas.

The raw food diet is also something that is recommended, the enzymes created are very healthy for dog's teeth and keeps the plaque down. You can find information on 'Raw Food Diet' on my website.

I also came across a product in an alternative health magazine for dogs. It is a liquid product that can be applied to dog’s teeth to keep them healthy. It is called Leba III. You may want to check it out as well. The web site is www.lebalab.com

My friend also mentioned not to give your dog "Greenies", apparently they can be dangerous. Dogs can't digest them properly, and they are a choking hazard.

I hope this information helps.

All the best to you and your lovely Greyhound
Gabriele