is professional dental care neccessary?

[Verenabean24]

hi guys, Id like some advise... I got my six year old dude about 3 weeks ago now and took him to his first vet visit with his new vet. I got him a bulldog specialist as recommended by many. She assured me he is in very good health. Checked his heart. Said he sounds great. Said everything is great. Only thing was she recommended he get a one time teeth cleaning because it didnt seem that he had that done before and he had quit a bit of plaque built up and she said all of that could be reversed and he would be good to go after one cleaning and I probably wouldnt need another one after that as long as I continue with regulare teeth care at home. Wich I plan on doing. As Im sure You all know, they have to be put under anastesia for this and that makes me a but nervous.... is this procedure neccesary? Ive heard alot of horror stories about that going horribly wrong with bulldogs, that alot of vets dont know what they are doing and do it wrong. Im so scared. Hes my baby. Is this neccessary? Could I reverse his dental care by brushing his teeth daily at home starting now? Thanks so much guys!

 

[aprilemari]

Personally I would wait on the procedure, and if (god forbid) your bully has to be put under anesthesia for any other reason, to get his teeth cleaned then. Lola is 4 years old and her teeth have always been remarkably clean (per the vets comments) but we have never brushed them. Instead, we keep her fully stocked in nylabones, the rubbery ones, which she chews on several times a day for more than 20 minutes each time. These rubbery ones aren't for every bully though, since bits of them can be chewed off and swallowed. The tiny grain of rice pieces are fine to go through the digestive system, but powerful chewers can get bigger pieces off that are a choking hazard. Lola is weird in that she spits all of the pieces out, no matter what the size, which is why we feel comfortable giving her them while supervised. Another option for teeth cleaning is a deer or elk antler. these will slowly wear down as your bully grinds them, and will still clean the teeth, although not as well as a rubbery bone. Lola cracked her tooth on one antler and had to get it extracted (with anesthesia) since they can be very hard. Maybe others will pipe in, but I wouldn't put Lola under just for a teeth cleaning.

 

[Kevikell]

Personally I would wait on the procedure, and if (god forbid) your bully has to be put under anesthesia for any other reason, to get his teeth cleaned then. Lola is 4 years old and her teeth have always been remarkably clean (per the vets comments) but we have never brushed them. Instead, we keep her fully stocked in nylabones, the rubbery ones, which she chews on several times a day for more than 20 minutes each time. These rubbery ones aren't for every bully though, since bits of them can be chewed off and swallowed. The tiny grain of rice pieces are fine to go through the digestive system, but powerful chewers can get bigger pieces off that are a choking hazard. Lola is weird in that she spits all of the pieces out, no matter what the size, which is why we feel comfortable giving her them while supervised. Another option for teeth cleaning is a deer or elk antler. these will slowly wear down as your bully grinds them, and will still clean the teeth, although not as well as a rubbery bone. Lola cracked her tooth on one antler and had to get it extracted (with anesthesia) since they can be very hard. Maybe others will pipe in, but I wouldn't put Lola under just for a teeth cleaning.

I agree with aprilemari. I wouldn't put a dog under just for teeth cleaning. My girl was 8 when she had a cancerous bump removed and the vet cleaned her teeth at that time. I would have ever even entertained the thought because mine are vigorous chewers, love bones and their teeth look pretty good even though I don't do any cleaning myself.

 

[Vikinggirl]

I agree with others comments that it would be best to wait to have his teeth cleaned, especially if he's in good health as the vet has said, and his teeth aren't that bad. There is always risk with anesthetic, but more so with the bully breed due to their breathing. If you can give him some rubber bones to chew on, this will help clean his teeth. I found a dog groomer that does teeth scaling and brushing in her shop, without anesthetic and she did a good job. She has done a course on cleaning and scaling dogs teeth, and she charges $20, which is way cheaper than the vet, since you have to pay for the anesthesia as well as the cleaning. I don't know of any other groomers who do this, but maybe you can look into it in your area.

 

[Verenabean24]

Thank you all so much! This is very informative and helpful. I have been leaning toward this as well. Especially as he has been doing just fine. He was bleeding on his toys a bit when I got him and that's what my concern came from but now that I have had him and he has been given a few good toys since and been in my care there is no more blood. So to me that makes me think he is already improving?

 

[aprilemari]

A little blood is normal when the toys are stimulating his gum line... Think when we floss after a while of not flossing

sent from my droid mini

 

[laurendoodler]

If you don't go with the dental, I suggest raw meaty bones! Fabulous for teeth cleaning! My dogs teeth look great for a 6 year old.

 

[2BullyMama]

Thank you all so much! This is very informative and helpful. I have been leaning toward this as well. Especially as he has been doing just fine. He was bleeding on his toys a bit when I got him and that's what my concern came from but now that I have had him and he has been given a few good toys since and been in my care there is no more blood. So to me that makes me think he is already improving?

as others stated, I would not do this unless there was a medical/health issue --- we also use raw marrow bones, once a week and all our bullies have had great teeth - clean without issue for all their lives.

 

[Verenabean24]

update; Today is day one after Walters Dental cleaning and I happy to report that it went very well and I am very happy I decided to go thru with it. Come to find out He had two teeth that were very loose and needed to be pulled. these teeth do not affect his eating. alot of you adviced me against doing the procedure and I totally was in agreeance but unfortunetly Walter came to me at a later age so I wasnt able to keep up on his teeth by other means so I felt that this was the best option(along with the vet). And the process went very well and he is doing amazing. and he doesnt have bad breather anymore! If anyone has any questions or is having a similar issue feel free to contact me! I know I needed some advice. Thank you all! and Walter is doing awsome and today is wanting to play more than ever!

 

[2BullyMama]

update; Today is day one after Walters Dental cleaning and I happy to report that it went very well and I am very happy I decided to go thru with it. Come to find out He had two teeth that were very loose and needed to be pulled. these teeth do not affect his eating. alot of you adviced me against doing the procedure and I totally was in agreeance but unfortunetly Walter came to me at a later age so I wasnt able to keep up on his teeth by other means so I felt that this was the best option(along with the vet). And the process went very well and he is doing amazing. and he doesnt have bad breather anymore! If anyone has any questions or is having a similar issue feel free to contact me! I know I needed some advice. Thank you all! and Walter is doing awsome and today is wanting to play more than ever!

WHat fantastic news.... so happy it went well and he is doing good!