I just wanted everyone to know WHY  brushing your dogs teeth and regular dental care at your vet's office is so important! To do that I am going to tell you the stories of two ratties.

The first is Rattagan's story:

Ratty will 12 years old Feb. 17th but about 5-6 years ago I noticed that his breath was getting really stinky and I mean REALLY STINKY! We lived in a small country town in NC and not many vets to choose from so I went to a vet recommended when Ratty was a pup for everything he needed done. I took him to this vet about this and was told oh there's no problem, just give him dental chews and he'll be fine. Well I'm here to tell you all that that was WAY WRONG!!! I did this and his breath got worse and worse. Two years ago I moved to Florida, met Phil, found a good vet in Miami for Ratty. At the time he was my only dog. We took him in for his shots to be updated and get his rabies and mentioned his breath to the vet. She looked at his teeth and said he needed a good cleaning which I couldn't afford right then(kick me in the butt for an idiot). So we got everything else done and then I noticed a few days later that he was turning his head to the side to pick up his food and seemed to be having trouble chewing. WTH? I told Phil and an appointment was made for 2 days later. We took him in at 8 am and went on to my own dental appointment. While I was in the chair getting my teeth taken care of, the vet called Phil. She told us that she had to take a few teeth due to a major infection in his gums. Boy wasn't I in for a shock when we picked him up that afternoon. He had lost 8 teeth and the vet iformed me that if we hadn't brought him in when we did my little boy would have died because the infection had spread to his little body. She then discussed with me importance of brushing his teeth and we bought his first doggie toothbrush and toothpaste before we left her office. She told me then that I could expect more problems due to the lack of care in his youger days. Sure enough six months later after we moved and found a vet in Palm Bay his face was starting to swell and we made him an appointment. He went in and lost 10 more teeth, the surgeon called me and was ready to read me the riot act for not caring for my dog until I told him what had happened. The vets words were these "THOSE COUNTRY VETS COULD CARE LESS IF THE DOGS IN THEIR CARE GET GOOD DENTAL CARE. Most don't want to bother." Now I brush Ratty's teeth and Daddy brushes his sisters, Cameo's teeth as he has since she was 3 months old. Ratty may yet loose more teeth due to the bad infection at the time of both dental procedures. That equals about $2000 for both dental visits and extractions folks, money that can be saved IF you take care of your dogs teeth NOW! Nala Belle will be getting her first toothbrush today! And she is only 2 months old, start now it's easier on you and most of all its easier on THEM.

Next is Cutter's story:

Little Cutter Bug was left at the shelter in Palm Bay after his people lost their home and everything they own. He is 10 years old and six pounds of love. Phil adopted him for me because he knew when he saw him that I would fall in love with him since I had always wanted a "little" one. We noticed right away that he was missing some teeth and that his breath smelled like he had been eating fish that had been dead on shore for a week. He went to the vet 2 weeks ago for his rabies shot and to have his teeth checked because we knew from the experience with Ratty that something wasn't right. That was the first time I got a really good look at my poor baby's teeth. I knew then that he had never had dental care and that the teeth that were missing had just rotted out of the poor baby's head. Today he went for his cleaning after being on antibiotics for 2 weeks. It is really bad folks. He has 3 teeth broken off and the gums have grown over them. Fortunately they are not posing a problem. He will loose 2 canines, one lower and one upper. The upper has a bad pocket of infection and has to be pulled. They will have to create a flap of the gum and suture that closed so no food gets into the sinus cavity. He will also loose several pre-molars. When the surgeon is finished little Cutter Bug will have very few if any teeth left but whatever teeth he has will be brushed and regularly so that maybe we can save the rest. There is another $1000 or close to it. It hits the pocket book real hard so don't let it sneak up on you like it did me due to a vet that didn't care. Proper care now can save your fubaby a lot of pain and can save you a lot of bucks. SHOW YOUR FURBABIES THAT YOU REALLY LOVE THEM, BRUSH THEIR TEETH TODAY! It saves them from pain "tomorrow".

PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!     IF YOU DO NOT CARE FOR YOUR DOGS TEETH YOU ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES!

INFECTION KILLS!   PROVIDE DENTAL CARE AND BRUSH YOUR DOGS TEETH AS YOU WOULD CARE FOR YOUR OWN TEETH!

If you've gotten this far Thank You from the bottom of my heart for reading. May the Great Spirit bless each and every one of you.

Janie and the Palm Bay Rat Pack

I'm sorry your little baby had to go through all this. I went through the same thing with my Sandy and Kaci. I can't agree with you more, Janie!! HUGS!

HOW TO BRUSH YOUR DOGS TEETH AND WHAT TO BRUSH WITH?

As another note: Both of my vets have recommended C.E.T. products. Ours love the chicken flavored paste. There are 2 kinds of brushes one with a handle like people brushes but way softer or finger brushes the fit on the end of your finger.

Hold your dog in a position comfortable for you to get the toothbrush(or finger) in their mouths. I just hold Ratty's collar with my thumb under his chin. Brush the teeth and gums with gentle pressure. The toothpaste is an enzyme that eats plaque, etc., so it matters more to just brush their teeth and leave the paste to do the rest of the work for you. It is all but impossible to brush the "backs" of their teeth so Phil and I encourage them chewing slightly on the brush so as to get the paste on the back of the teeth and between teeth. I use about 1/2 the amount of paste that I would use on my own teeth. You have to find what works for you and your pup, Cutter and Zip fight a little so which ever way they turn their heads we work on that side and then the other. We're new at this too but just wanted everyone to know the importance of this.

Hm.  We don't brush our dog's teeth.  Ever.  And the vet doesn't say anything about it, though he does recommend various dry dog food and biscuits because they sort of clean the teeth.

I don't want Murphy to be left with 5 teeth in his skull before I wise up about this, though.  I bet he's gonna hate this...

WOW Janie! What a moving story!

But...That makes me feel  feel totally paranoid!!!

I have had dogs ALL my life...Labs, mixes, rescues,even show dogs (Afghan and Ibizan) and never did their teeth!!! 

Never even had a vet do them. They all lived to be old (with teeth)...... BUT I did give all raw bones. That was always their treats...so perhaps that was their salvation?? AND I wonder if smaller dogs might be more prone to dental issues???

Well..Yogi will be starting brushing before bed ASAP!

We are trying to do it daily.  Cameo is exactly the same as Ivy, I brush my teeth and she is right there "Me too.  Me too."  That makes it so much easier.  Zipper has taken a liking the toothpaste as well.  He will show up within a couple of minutes of starting with Cameo and tries to nose his way in for a taste.  Cameo is the same when I'm brushing Zipper's teeth.  Janie tries to brush Rattagan's daily also.  I think he's more comfortable with Janie poking around in his mouth, he trusts her completely.

Dr Joiner, one of two surgeons at the animal medical clinic, and the one that does the dentistry, suggested Janie become the poster child for Canine Dental Hygene, what we all we've been through with his great work on Rattagan and Cutter.  He sees far too many cases of dental neglet.   Little Master Cutter was probably one of the worst cases he has ever seen. When he worked on Rattagan's teeth he called Janie and started giving her  what-fer for the condition Rattagan was in.  Once Janie explained the history with their old country vet he understood.

They provided before and after photos with the billing which I will scan and post later.

Marley loves to have his teeth brushed.  We use the chicken flavored toothpaste and he sort of chews on the bristles as I move the brush around in his mouth.  I do it after his evening snack so that the toothpast isthe last thing in his mouth before he goes to bed at night  to give the enzymes a chance to do their job.