cavaliers teeth

[appollania]

I have had six calavlier king charles and have noticed that their teeth go bad at around age 6 they also seem to loose them. I have had them cleaned at the vet and I give mainly dry food? any adivice? otherwise they have been very healthy I have been lucky

[Karlin]

Dental health with dogs, as with people, is a mix of care and genetics. If you brush their teeth regularly -- at least a couple of time a week -- this helps a lot, So do good quality chews that help scrape off plaque. Many people feel raw meaty bones help too -- just be aware that certain chews as well as raw (never feed cooked) bones do have some health risks but many feel the benefits outweigh the problems (that said, I know of two dogs who have died painfully from raw bones, both dogs on a raw [BARF] diet).

Dogs also benefit from at least part of their diet being dry food -- only having soft food contributes to poor dental health.

As for genetics -- I have two half brother cavaliers, 5 weeks apart in age -- one has great teeth and gums, one has always had poor teeth and gums. Same diet, similar genes, very different dental health profiles.

[liammckeogh]

Our Molly is now 8 months old. Is it too late to start cleaning her teeth----meaning would she allow it. lol.

[Brian M]

Hi

It is never to late to start ,my Lily came to me last August aged 12 months and she has her teeth cleaned with my other three and they all line up and enjoy .Don't forget the link between bad teeth and heart disease .

[Bet]

Hi

It is never to late to start ,my Lily came to me last August aged 12 months and she has her teeth cleaned with my other three and they all line up and enjoy .Don't forget the link between bad teeth and heart disease .

CAVALIERS TEETH

Yes Brian,Professor Larry Glickman wrote a Veterinary Paper about this about a couple of years ago when he was at Purdue University, America.

He gave the Figures ,and mentioned that the Cavaliers ' Heart problem could be linked to the Cavalier Breed having the worst Teeth of any other Breed.

I will look out this Paper and give the information about what he had said.

Bet

[Karlin]

There is a known connection between the bacteria in the mouth from gum disease and heart disease -- true for humans too. Yet another reason good dental care and brushing is important for our cavaliers! I'd be interested in the paper info, Bet.

[Princess Phoebe]

Our Molly is now 8 months old. Is it too late to start cleaning her teeth----meaning would she allow it. lol.

If you introduce her to the toothbrush gradually, she will get used to it. Try putting a bit of specialist dog toothpaste on a soft cloth at first and put it on her front teeth. She will probably like the toothpaste. I know that my Phoebe loved it. After doing that a couple of times, move the cloth around to include her back teeth. (Plenty of praise when she does well). Once she is used to the toothpaste, then start with a soft toothbrush in the same way.

[Nicki]

Lintbells now produce a great microfibre toothbrush which seems to be very well tolerated

http://www.lintbells.com/page/toothcleaner

Much easier to clean the back teeth too!

[Chuck]

Cooper has never let me brush his teeth very well. I now use petzlife Oral Care Gel for him and Nina. I started it around the 1st of April and see a lot of improvment and loss of plaque.

[Brian M]

Hi Chuck

Petzlife Gel and Spray are good products have been using both for a couple of years together with Logic Oral Hygiene Gel and also give them a Logic Dental chew but first off a brush each with a good doggy toothpaste .So my four each have their teeth brushed firstly with a doggy toothpaste then brushed again with Logic Gel then brushed again with Petzlife Gel then sprayed with Petzlife Oral Spray then I give them each a Logic chew and to finish a herbal pillule of Fragaria and I also put an anti plaque liquid additive to their water .It all takes time every night but if it stops them have dentals with a general anesthetic and helps them with a healthy heart I don't mind my nightly routine one bit and all the girls sit side by side waiting for their turn to be done .So have fun its worth every second .