Plaque-Blast for cleaning teeth

 I had not heard of it, so did a bit of Googling.  Wow, they have SO MANY web sites, some are just tons of positive reviews THEY have set up.  It was very difficult to find real info, Dogster was the only good thread I could locate -- and some one from the company started posting in there too!

 I'd stick to known products: PetzLife, raw beef marrow bones, raw sweet potato.  

I'm not one much for using things like that -- I'd rather not use a chemical when I can use something natural.  You might want to add something like chicken wings or recreational bones to your dog's diet.  I mean UNCOOKED chicken wings (if anything plunge them into boiling water for about 8-10 seconds and OUT of the water - that kills surface bacteria without cooking the bones.

You can't give cooked chicken bones -- they splinter and can be lethal -- but things like wings or half a chicken back really can do enormously good things to keep rid of plaque on dog teeth -- particularly those narrow little sheltie mouths (I had a sheltie/corgi cross who lived to be 19!!!!)

However you will likely want to have periodic cleanings done -- even wtih the most stringent program of recreational bones and brushing, just like us, they need their teeth cleaned periodically.

You may want to talk to your vet -- my vet, who KNEW Foxy, would just mask him down **without** a sedative when he cleaned Foxy's teeth. (he does this with all my dogs) -- shetlies can have a tough time with some anesthesia so make sure you talk about that with your vet to ensure that the vet is using sheltie-friendly stuff.

I don't do a raw-food diet -- but I *do* use raw recreational bones periodically to help keep teeth clean.  It can be a superb help.

I think I've seen a commercial or two for that.  Is that the stuff you spray in their mouth?  Honestly, I don't put much faith in anything I see advertised on TV.   I've been adding Plaqueoff to my Lab's food for a little over a year now.  I stopped for a few weeks over the summer, and saw a definite difference.  Don't let the price scare you- the small bottle lasts me a little over 3 months. 

http://www.plaqueoff.com/

cody11

Even though I don't like having my dog put to sleep. However I find cleaning teeth without putting them to sleep is barbaric,I know people do this and I am sure it's ok, but I just wouldn't feel good doing that

Um, I think you've misunderstood me.

ANY time they put a dog "under" for surgery it is **typically** a two step process.  First they give a sedative, and THEN they put the mask on for the actual anesthesia.

That two step process, done poorly, can be deadly for some breeds (shelties in particular).  There are some sedative/anesthetic combos that are just BAD and the dog essentially gets over-sedated and they may never come back to consciousness.

 this is one reason why vets usually do some preliminary bloodwork BEFORE **any** anesthesia.

But be aware -- that "two step process" really isn't necessary in many caes.  Essentially they sedate so the dog doesn't "panic" seeing the mask come at them.  Most vets just automatically  sedate first without question.

When I said my vet "Just masks them down" I mean my vet doesn't used the sedative first.  He simply talks to them calmly -- and they know and trust him -- and he simply uses the anesthesia *alone* to make them sleep for surgery.  They wake up quicker afterward, and there are often far fewer potential complications.

I didn't mean that my vet doesn't give them anesthesia. 

For doing a dental, where the mouth is "open" the anesthesia doesn't put them "under" as deeply -- but unless they are pulling difficult teeth, a dental is more scarey than painful anyway so less anesthesia can be a really good thing.

The only barbaric thing would be scaring the dog -- and my dogs think Dr. B's office is THE best place on the planet.