BEST WAY TO PROTECT MY DOG'S TEETH - Page 1

I took my 6 year old to the vet for some exrays and I thought I would get her nails clipped and my vet cleaned her teeth for me also. Then he told me she had 2 cracked teeth and get rid of the nylon bones. Both my dogs love to chew on these bones and I loved it because it was a way to keep there teeth cleaned. So my question is what can be used as a dental tool that works?

Since we will probablly shift to a raw diet I have a couple questions on that topic also.

I never knew there were so many people feeding there Shepherds a raw diet which I hear can help keep there teeth in much better condition. I guess I have a couple of questions on that subject also. How do you know how much to feed your dog. I know it depends on the size of your dog but still what would bne the rations guide line.
I also wonder the cost difference feeding raw to lets say a 40 lb holistic food for $60.00 a bag. Which I would feed my grown dogs 2 cups twice a day.

Glad I found this site     Thanks for your time

Real bones.

Raw diet is def the way to go to help keep teeth clean!

I went to raw. I shop around for meats. I hit all the sales.
You feed 2 % of your dog's weight.
You feed 80% meat, 10% bone, 10%organ, liver is 5% (Wal-Mart sells chicken livers, beef liver, beef tongue, tripe, beef hearts)
that is your ratio.
I would start with bone in breasts.
You feed two weeks one protein with no organs. Then slowly add organs after the 2nd or third week you can add a protein.
Say pork or beef.

You said you feed kibble at 2 cups two times a day that is way too much. Adults only get one feed per day not two meals at 2 cups.
How big of dogs do you have 95lbs?

Your raw goes by weight on adults(( 2% of your dog weight is figured for raw, so say your dog is 70 lbs - take 70 x .02%= 1.4 lbs of raw food for one meal ) .
Kibble high quality is alot maybe 60-75 dollars a bag.
I pay for two of my dogs .39 cents per pound for raw chicken quarters.
That is buying 40# cases on sale.
They are usually 16.00 per case not on sale.

You shop.

My Boston terrier should be a poster dog for raw.
His teeth were green, his gums were bleeding if  you touch them, he didn't feel good, he would be lazy and swallow kibble which led to all this.
I cooked him food for two weeks and then went to raw. All his mouth problems gone! Bright white teeth, no bad breath, shiny coat, gained weight. He is all the reasons to go raw.

Be aware you shouldn't feed any Weight bearing raw bones at all, hell on teeth.
Only meaty bones.
I have two groups if you want names. Both connected to one another one is facebook group and one is on yahoo.
Write to me if you want them.
You can learn alot on the yahoo one by just listening.
I buy in bulk and load up the freezer. I pull out a few days worth and feed.
The ratios above are per meal. 80-10-10 or 5 on liver

My german shepherd feels better and is maintaining weight better then kibble. I see the difference. And I think raw is right for her.

good luck

Hey thanks for all the info..  Fantastic.  Yes my dogs are 90lbs & 80lbs both females and they are not chubby by ant means. The reason I changed to Inova and feed 2 times a day is I have lost 2 dogs to bloat out of the 6 have owned over the last 30 years.
 I noticed a difference in there eyes and even the color of there coat changed when I changed over to inova 2-3 years ago. Please keep the info coming it is very much appreciated.

Matthews3662,
Where do you find leg quarters for .39 cents per lb?  I also buy by the 40 lb case and pay @ .64 cents per lb, $24 per case.  I feed a higher percentage to my dogs between 3 and 4 % of body weight and weigh each meal for my male.  He is 4 years old and weighs about 80 lbs of solid muscle, he gets between 2.5 to a little over 3 lbs a day.  My 11 year old female weighs @ 65 lbs and she gets between 2 and 2.5% of body weight per day, about 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 lbs per day. 

I don't bother with the tripe at Walmart because it is processed and bleached, I don't think it has that much value. I have used it in the past though.  I would like to find a good source for green tripe. 

I have never cleaned my dogs teeth, the bones do that very well.  Besides some wear on the back of my males lower canines form chewing on the kennel fence when younger his teeth are perfectly white.  There is really no tartar or placque build up when feeding raw. 

I would suggest that feeding 2 x per day is more desirable than 1 x a day as far as bloat is concerned.

Jim

Zin,
I also lost a dog to bloat many years ago and it is a horrible experience.  You are correct in feeding twice a day.  But you must also limit exercise or any stressful activity, like going to the vet, for 2 hours before and after each feeding.  Also limit water with the food.  Do not allow the dogs to have access to a big bowl of water right after or before they eat.  It is better to take the water away, especially when feeding dry kibble.  Do not elevate the feeding dish. 

Also, be very careful with water consumption after exercise.  Only allow a small amount of water after you run or work your dogs.  Give a small amount, wait a little while and give some more.  Do not allow the dog to gulp huge amounts of water after physical activity especially in the heat.  

Many working dog people are now preemptively "tacking" their dogs stomachs to help avoid the flipping or torsion that can occur with bloat. 

Two out of six dogs is a lot and I am sorry for you loss.  Were the dogs related?  Were they fed the same dry kibble and what brand was it?  What common factors did you find between those two dogs?  Just very curious.

JMO FWIW,

Jim

www.greentripe.com/
I buy tripe from them in one pound chubs mixed with a bit of muscle meat and organ and ground bone.  I have it shipped to my front door and keep it in an upright freezer in my garage.  You can get it cheaper if you buy it in two pound chubs but I only have one dog.

www.excelk9diet.com/home.htm
I used to buy food from them and they are very reasonable and good quality.  They will box it up and send it to your front door frozen and they have 1 and 2 lb and quantity discounts.

I don't know what will happen, your dog already has cracked teeth, if you give it whole bone.  I do know that eating raw bone makes their teeth stronger but you may want to stick with ground/crushed bone like the above sources.  There are many suppliers.

Michele

Slamdunk, I am aware of the excersice but was not aware of the drinking of water or NOT to elevate food bowls. I was told TO elevate feeding bowl so they can swallow easier. Actually all my American Shepherds were from the same breeder and only 1 was from a different breeder. Its crazy because 1 of my dogs died while we were all @ work and I know for a fact he was not playing in the backyard by himself. The lot was fenced in 90ft x 200ft backyard. My other dog suffered from bloat and again I never allowed them to play after eating . I felt that a changed to holistic/ natural food was needed so I switched. Now I am reading about all the raw feeders and it has my interestpeaked. "but my wife curled her nose when I told her what I was reading"  lol
I think I fed Purina pro plan. 

Again thanks for all the info love it.

I consider myself a very good dog owner and trainer. I am the neighborhood dog whisper, but being able to understand dogs and teach them to want to please you is only part of it. I need a lot of work on everything else.

There are actually suppliers of this type of food?

Zin,
Very interesting, thanks for the reply.  Bloat definitely has a genetic factor, IMO.  That is why I asked if the dogs were related.  Recent, studies that I have read have discouraged the use of elevated food bowls.  My friends in Germany also advise against it as well.  Most people wake up and find their dog dead in the morning as the dog bloated at night when they were sleeping. 

I'm sure your wife or you cook and handle raw chicken, hamburger meat, and fish.  Feeding raw is no different than preparing a meal for your family except you don't cook it.  It does take more time than scooping kibble from a bag, but once you get it down it is really very simple.  I will never go back to dry food again. 

JMO FWIW,

Jim