Toothless Shelties

Ann

Ann

Moderator
I noticed on Snowy's You Tube videos (which are GREAT BTW!, love the one with the kitty!) that she is missing teeth. Our 10 y.o. female tri, Ivy, has also had most of her teeth either extracted or they've crumbled. I saw on Snowy's video that she is chewing rawhide. I've been reluctant to let Ivy gnaw on it although she used to love it, because since she can't chew it up she will swallow it whole. She can pretty much swallow a whole rawhide stick, yikes! :eek2: I wondered if Glade or anyone else on the list has dealt with this issue. Our other two Shelties each get a rawhide treat every night after dinner and I'm at a loss what to do for poor Ivy! Anyone have any suggestions? :confused2: Thanks!!
 
First of all, thank you for the comments about our videos!

Snowy is the second 'tooth-challenged' sheltie I have had, and it can be tough, especially when you have other dogs that have all their teeth.

Tommy, my first toothless Sheltie, could not have any type of rawhide, as he would swallow it.

Snowy will lick and gum at rawhide,and doesn't try to swallow them, but normally, when the other dogs get them, I will give her Kong. The have a small 'senior' kong that is softer than the original, and I will put a few kibbles in it along with a touch of peanut butter or something similar, and she will work at that for quite a while.

Other treats she can have sometime are all natural ckicken jerky (it softens in her mouth) and freeze dried liver bits.

But for a long treat, the Senior Kong works the best, I have found.

Speaking of teeth, here is a pick of Tommy when we took him in, with his crazy bubba teeth:
Picture046.jpg


And what he looked like after a few had been removed
ugh.jpg


And when they were all removed,at age 14
Picture065.jpg
 
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Thanks, Glade! I actually just got her a senior kong. I'll try using that at treat time, what a good idea. I have some jerky I give her but she goes through it in a nanosecond. Ivy looks like the last picture of your Tommy...our vet says she reminds him of a dolphin. But she is so much happier since we got the bad teeth out.
 
Isn't it amaizing what a difference a little teeth care can have? I am always nervous to put an older dog under ansesthesia, but it can have a great pay-off in quality of life!
 
Abby came to me with manky teeth and had to have a couple out, she was also going to need them cleaned at some stage, I asked on another forum I'm a member of what people recommended. I was told about a treat called fish4dogs sea jerky which is just fish skin, the difference has been amazing Abby's teeth are a lot cleaner and I think I will get away with not having to have them cleaned :winkgrin:. I don't know if you can get them where you are but I'm sure there must be something similar, actually they probably came from over by you originally :lol:.
Mods I'll put a link up to the ones I buy but if it's not allowed please feel free to remove, it's just to show what they look like
http://www.fish4dogs.com/cms/foodstore.aspx

Terri
 
Ever since the Greenie people reformulated the Greenies, I've been using those. I have toothbrushes, but trying to brush the teeth of three Shelties is pretty tough. My doc says just work on the taratr spots - much more do-able. Like many folks, I'm reluctant to put my girls under for teeth. I suppose one day I;ll have to, but I'm hoping only to do it once or twice.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions! Ivy does love that Senior Kong, Glade, and oh my adding the peanut butter is wonderful (as long as she doesn't rub it on my white rug!!) :eek2: I haven't tried the Greenies, Chris, since all that publicity came out a few years back about how they could fragment. Good to know they're safe to use now. I do brush Barkley and Pixie's teeth...I use those presoaked pads which Barkley will (and has!) swallow if I don't keep a good grip. :razz: He *loves* the taste!! Ivy though won't let me near her mouth but with only two back teeth left, I figure I'll leave her alone.

My vet also gave me a liquid called Oxyfresh Pet Oral Hygeine Solution. You put a teaspoon in a quart of their water a few times a week and it's supposed to do what brushing does.
 
I am glad that Ivy likes her "Senior Kong" as much as Snowy does. Snowy has a little dog blanket on the floor that I put the kong on, so as to save the carpet, whick works...most of the time!
 
Snowy , I know what you mean about being afraid about placing an older sheltie under for teeth. Thats how I lost my Jewel. :cry: I didn't think twice because she haddental work done just the year prior with no problem.:confused2: I will remember to ask my vet about the oxyfresh because I don't know if I will ever do that again.:no: Is the oxyfresh only available through the vet?
 
Hi Elaine ~ My vet sells the Oxyfresh, but I googled it and you can get it online and whadaya know, it's cheaper than the vet!:lol: (Of course we'll pay shipping but still, it's the principle!) Here's the link:
http://www.oxyfresh.com/pet/petoralhygiene.asp

The bottle suggests one teaspoon to a quart of water. My water bowl holds about a quart so I just mix a teaspoon in a few times a week. Much easier than brushing, and definitely preferable to the anesthesia route. I can't blame you for not wanting to do that after you lost poor Jewel.:sadsmile:
 
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