I adopted a small spaniel on 29th January who currently weighs around 24 lbs.
She turned 12 yesterday.
Ever since her first visit to the vet, they've been constantly encouraging me to get her teeth cleaned (a scale and polish).
I’m really worried about the general anaesthetic, so I keep saying no.
But at the last visit, he almost convinced me, saying there were more risks with tooth loss and dental infections than with the anaesthesia itself.
I’ve booked the appointment for Thursday, but my fears have come back and I’m ready to cancel again.
I’d like to know if there’s any other way to clean my little dog’s teeth without a general anaesthetic that’s still effective enough to prevent dental problems.
I also know the risks involved if the tartar stays because I had another little dog who suffered from lots of dental infections and lost her teeth... so I know that doing nothing can also be dangerous.
I feel so lost and I'm scared for my little girl.
Does anyone have any advice or know of any less risky but effective methods?
Translated from French
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Aggie
You know, ***** wasn’t used to it either. I just took things slowly and it worked out in the end. If Norkam really turns his nose up at it though, I did read a review from someone who’d emptied the pipette into the water bowl. I’ve never tried that myself as dogs can have such sensitive stomachs, but if you can, then why not?
I saw the Zooplus reviews. Maybe I’m just overthinking it, but having ordered from both Amazon and Zooplus, I definitely notice a difference between the two.
Anyway, I’m not sure; Fortan doesn't have much of a taste. I managed to win ***** over, so you should be able to manage it with your boy! 😀
I’m going to give your recipe a go, Titejava. I’m a bit worried that Norkham’s molars are so brown at his age, especially as he’s only four. I’ve just been checking the reviews on Zooplus and they seem a bit mixed? I’m not sure Nono will let me do it, though...
Same here—especially since *****’s condition means she builds up tartar 24/7; I’d be at the vet’s constantly otherwise.
With the Fortan, you only need to use it 3 to 5 times during the first week. You don't need loads—just a few drops on a gauze pad or a doggy finger brush, then rub from the gums down to the teeth.
Okay, I’ll admit, because *****’s teeth were absolutely caked in tartar, I’d sometimes end up using a whole dropper full on the pad! 😂
I saw the first results after about a week. To get her used to the whole brushing routine, I give her a treat to sweeten the deal. She gets it now—even if she’s still not a fan of me poking around in her mouth, she lets me get on with it! Try using the Fortan alongside the homeopathic remedies, and if you’re feeling brave, you could start actually brushing her teeth too, but just the Fortan is a good start! 👍
Honestly, it’s unbelievable!! I don’t mean you, obviously, but what kind of vets don’t even look at a dog's teeth!! And as for the PlaqueOff and Fortan, well, what a rubbish response! Wait, no post-op check-up because of her age? That’s exactly why it’s so important!! Fortan and PlaqueOff for maintenance after a descale—I’m not surprised they said that, but a descale is much riskier and either way, whether you go for the descale or not, you’ve still got to look after her gnashers! I brush my dogs' teeth every now and then, on top of the Fortan and the homeopathy. Why not give dental dry food a go? It does exist!! Look, I don’t know, but given the bunch of jokers you’ve got for vets, I wouldn’t trust them with my dogs! Everything I’ve suggested, I’ve tried myself—if they didn't work, I wouldn't have bothered posting. I can’t say fairer than that!
The post-op visit will be a way to check on her overall health.
But I know I won't be able to agree to the descale.
I'm going to try the Fortan and the homeopathy.
I’m so terrified of losing her that I just can’t go through with it.
I’ve only had her for just over 3 months, but we’re already so incredibly close.
Aggie
You know, with ***** producing so much tartar because of her health issues, on top of the scale and polish she had and having teeth pulled, I haven’t found anything better than Fortan combined with homeopathic pellets that soften the tartar. Just to give you an idea, one of *****’s canines was so covered in tartar there was barely half a centimetre of healthy tooth showing – the Fortan cleared the lot!
You know I’m not pulling your leg; if it hadn’t worked I’d have said so, but seeing chunks of tartar just fall off, I promise you, it’s quite something!
I tried that plaque remover product once, but it made my two rascals sick, so needless to say I gave up on that!
I’m still using the Fortan every now and then, and I combine it with a bit of toothpaste occasionally, and it’s doing the trick!
Anyway, that’s just my own experience, hope it helps you out a bit...
Titejava,
Ever since I adopted Norkham, his molars have been quite scaled up with tartar, even though he was only 10 months old at the time. I've been using Plaque Off on a friend's recommendation, but honestly, it’s not been effective at all. He regularly chews on his stag antler—a big one he's had for nearly 3 years—and that’s not helping either. I must admit, I’m not really sure what to do anymore...
