Hi Everyone,
I am new to the list therefore I apologies if this subject has already been discussed. I have purebred Siberians , 12 of them with ages between 11 years to 2 years.
I have noticed a rapid change in dog breath, yellow/brown teeth over the past month. I have changed the dog food from High Performance to a lower one, albeit the same brand ,Prism Eagle Pack.. which I do every year at this time of the year. I have used this brand for years and have been very happy with it. The Summer kibble( as we call it in our house) is a lot smaller , therefore there seems to be hardly any work ( chewing) when they eat. I always mix the kibble with water .Now , my dogs do not like to eat raw bones at all. I have spent a small fortune at the pet store with all the commercial stuff that is out there, and they hate it all. Now, if I was to offer a dead rat or the house cat, they would jump for joy, however, that is just out of the question !!!!! I would be interested on how other people manage this. I tried with the finger tooth brush but stopped as it made the gums bleed. Ideas anyone...
Jane
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Increased bad breath in dogs is usually a proponent to a dental disease in the dog's mouth. This is due to the bacteria that have increased in association with the disease. All dental issues should be watched closely - as when the dog's gums start to bleed & get inflamed - that bacteria can find its way into the bloodstream. Later in life - this can actually cause heart problems because of the buildup that has found its way into the heart valves.
As for ways to fix this problem - I would definately suggest the raw meat bones, as swanny suggested. Try lamb, beef, etc...and see if your dog's will take to any of it. Also - as for the bleeding gums, this is due to the possibility of some plaque buildup, which causes the gums to become inflamed, which is gingivitis. Thus the bad breath. Many people get small cases of gingivitis simply because they aren't flossing or brushing enough - allowing the plaque to build up, causing inflammation and bleeding. Allowing the dogs access to bones, even sticks, etc....will help to keep their teeth healthy. If they were my dogs - I would start to gently brush their teeth maybe every other day, allowing the dog's gums to slowly be massages - and to help remove the plaque. Bleeding to a certain extent is okay - but excessive bleeding can be cause for alarm, and maybe warrant a trip to the vet. Dogs enjoy brushing more when you have toothpaste made for dogs with a meat flavor - or you can dip the toothbrush in some meat, and they will try to lick it while you work. :-)
When you say you put water in your food - do you soak it for a long amount of time? I personally wouldn't soak my food for very long - as it slowly starts to break down beneficial nutrients in the food, it can cause bad bacteria to develop - AND it causes the food to turn into mush - which doesn't allow for the natural ability of the food to clean the dog's teeth. When a dog eats dog food - the food is designed to "crunch" up into the teeth - scraping the plaque off the borders of the dog's teeth, where the gums & tooth meet. When the food is soaked and soft - this scraping doesn't happen, and you may find that the dogs aren't getting the proper "brushing" each day.
You've switched to a lesser food, but is it just a decrease in fat - or a decrease in its quality overall? Is it missing essential minerals & vitamins?
It might not necessarily be the change in diet - as going from high fat to low fat shouldn't cause this large of a problem for you, but it might just be a change in your feeding behavior or techniques for your entire kennel. Something as simple as soaking your food longer - might just be the cause of all your problems!
It's also important to remember that switching to a lesser food, though better for the wallet, even if its a decrease in the protein in the dog's food - may not always be the best. Many mushers have found that by feeding the same food year round, but only lessening the amount fed, gave them superior benefits come training/racing season. When you first give a dog a supplement - it can actually take months before you see the full effects of that new product into the dog's diet. It takes a while for the dog to effectively use the new addition - and for it to be used in the dog's muscles, ligaments, and even materials like bones.
If you're feeding the same, high protein/fat diet throughout the summer months, as soon as you start training - the dogs will be well ahead of the game - due to the ability of muscling quicker, and the oppurtunity to stay more muscled during the summer months. Its a lot like LSD (Long Slow Distance) Training. Once again, it can take months before you truly start to see the effects of increased aerobic ability. Though its a complicated subject - I believe there's lots of truth to these new found ideals.
By the way - one of my mentors decided one year NOT to switch from Eagle Power to a lower brand during the summer - and once the training season came around - all her dogs had kept most of the muscle they had from the past racing season - and were way ahead in their training regime for that next year.
Wow, that's a tough one!!!
Do you have access to bones directly from a butcher? You might try giving them bones that have some meat left on them. By gnawing off the meat they should abrade their teeth enough to do at least some cleaning.
Something else worth trying is to get some PVC pipe that's sold cheap in the plumbing section at your favorite home improvement store. Cut it into 12 to 15 inch sections with a hacksaw. Fill the pipe with raw hamburger or anything else your dogs consider to be a really cool treat, and then freeze them.
You can safely give them the from treat-sickles as chew toys and that may also help them clean their teeth. It's a lot cheaper than buying a dozen of the "heavy duty" Kong toys, which would also work.
Swanny