How often do your dogs have their teeth cleaned at the vets?

**Pam** · 03-13-2008, 09:44 AM

After viewing Anna's thread with Simba and his recent dental visit, it got me thinking about starting a thread on dental visits. I took Ripley to the vet recently to have him look at two small bumps on his tail. It turns out that they are just cysts and he wasn't concerned at all but did offer to remove them if it concerned me. He said he was way more concerned about his teeth.

He said that Ripley, and most small dogs, have a tendency to build up tartar very quickly and he was concerned that Ripley might have tooth loss if we let it go too long. That all said, I made an appointment for Ripley to have his teeth cleaned and cysts removed next Friday. It has only been 18 months since his last cleaning at the vet's but he does need it.

Bella, on the other hand, doesn't build up tartar that quickly so she is in good shape.

So, how often do you have your dogs' teeth cleaned at the vet's?

**Glacier** · 03-13-2008, 09:51 AM

Never, unless there is a problem. Hobo had his done about a year ago, but he had one that needed to come out. Ended up being 6 that needed to come out! They get lots of bones and chewies. That seems to keep their teeth shiny clean. Heyoka has a note on his vet file that his teeth are "abnormally white". He looks like he uses Crest Whitestrips every day!

Dental work is so ridiculously expensive that I am very glad they don't have on-going teeth trouble!

**Taz_Zoee** · 03-13-2008, 09:53 AM

Zoee is three years old and has never had her teeth cleaned. My niece brushed them once.

I'll do it if there is ever a problem or my vet recommends it. Or maybe if she has to be knocked out due to something else.

**anna_66** · 03-13-2008, 10:02 AM

I have to say Simba is the first dog I've ever had that had dental work.

I never brush their teeth, they just get plenty of good meaty bones. That seems to do the trick. They have nice bright white teeth

**caseysmom** · 03-13-2008, 10:38 AM

Casey has gone in every year for a dental for the last three years and she is due again in April, the first time she was really out of it so I have asked for the mildest anathesia they can give her. Her teeth get really dirty, I should give her a bone or something here and there but her stomach is so sensitive I am afraid too.

Bubba had a checkup last week and they said his teeth look real bad, he is 3 and a half, I am going to get his cleaned next month when casey goes in. I do have insurance and it is covered.

**Pam** · 03-13-2008, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by caseysmom

Bubba had a checkup last week and they said his teeth look real bad, he is 3 and a half, I am going to get his cleaned next month when casey goes in. I do have insurance and it is covered.

Yep the little dogs do have a problem with dirty teeth. I had two toy poodles and it was the same with them. One of my toy poodles began losing teeth even though we did have them cleaned periodically. I can remember even finding one on the floor one day!

Oh boy, insurance would be great! Good for you!

**IRescue452** · 03-13-2008, 09:52 AM

We did Pepper every other year or so when she was alive. We probably should have done it more often, but we got her before the big changes in how people take care of their dogs' teeth.

Wallace is only a year old. He's a cocker so we expect horrible teeth.

Autumn has good, clean teeth. Her teeth would be the last way you'd want to guess her age. In my experience, retrievers usually have good teeth.