Teeth

[Dana]

Murphy (2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog) had his wellness check with our local vet. There is tarter build up on his back lower molars. Murphy eats a raw diet and gets raw marrow bones. I brush his teeth one or two times a week with coconut oil.
I have been following Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte, A holistic vet in Australia. His podcast this week was all about how every dog should get a sedated yearly cleaning. Thoughts?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hey Dana!

Have you tried holding a chicken or turkey neck by the sides of his mouth so he cn gnaw on it there (to help remove the tartar).

An anesthetic dental should be performed when needed, not routinely once/year.

Perhaps consider a non-anesthetic dental at:

Veterinary Dentist in Mamaroneck | Cat & Dog Dental Care

The vets at Mamaroneck Veterinary Hospital comprehensive dental care to cats and dogs to help them maintain their optimal oral health. Learn more.

mamaroneckvet.com

 

[Dr. Christina]

And maybe increase the brushing to daily in addition to Dr. Jeff's suggestion.

While most dogs on the diet you feed will have great teeth, a few have a weakness in the vital force resulting in more tarter.

Be sure to add that to your Master Symptom list and continue to track in your journal. It could be used as a symptom when looking for a homeopathic medicine in the future.

I agree with Dr. Jeff about yearly cleanings - not needed. Maybe try the bone holding and brushing for another 6 months and re-evaluate.

Dr. Christina

 

[Dr. Christina]

And Kristen Leigh Bell in holistic aromatherapy for animals has a formula to use after dental to prevent tarter build up. Might remove mild tarter:

Pg 148
1 t vegetable glycerin
1/2 oz grain alcohol or vodka
1 t sulfated castor oil
7 oz distilled spring water
6 drops cardamom (elletaria cardamomum
4 drops coriander seed (coriandrum sativum
6 drops peppermie (mentha piperita
for more info on any of these ingredients - pick up her book.

Dr. Christina

 

[GinnyW]

I'd look for some better-shaped bones. Marrow bones do not get chewed by back teeth, and in any case are too big and tough to clean well. Many slab fractures are caused by them as well. Try neck bones, as Dr. Jeff suggests, and also slabs of ribs from lamb or pork, etc. - two or more ribs together will be well-chewed. Smaller beef ribs are OK for such a big dog. Shoulder blades are softer bones; also necks from lamb, pork, etc. Oxtails left whole or in large pieces of more than one vertebra are great. Whole turkey carcasses - I don't feed the long leg or wing bones, as they can splinter. Whole chickens, though, are fine.
We have also had good results maintaining clean teeth with BioBrillant, a food-based tooth powder from InClover which is sprinkled on any "bowl" food.

 

[aruna]

@Dana , we have an Empower Hour! webinar about this you may find interesting:
Dental care: Non member login - Holistic Actions!
Non-anesthetic dentistry: Non member login - Holistic Actions!

 

[Dana]

@Dana , we have an Empower Hour! webinar about this you may find interesting:
Dental care: Non member login - Holistic Actions!
Non-anesthetic dentistry: Non member login - Holistic Actions!

Where do I find it?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Hey Dana-

Just login at the member resource site then click the link that Aruna shared above.

 

[aruna]

Where do I find it?

this is the link, just click on it (you may need to sign in): Non member login - Holistic Actions!