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?
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Seriously, some people are just bloody idiots!!
I’m not talking about you, obviously, but what kind of vets don’t even look at a dog’s teeth!!
And as for the PlaqueOff and Fortan, honestly, what a rubbish response!
Wait, no post-op check-up because of his age? That’s exactly when it’s most important!!
I’m not surprised they suggested Fortan and PlaqueOff for maintenance after a scale and polish, but a dental is much riskier, and whether you go for the scale and polish or not, you’ve still got to look after his pearly whites!
I brush my dogs’ teeth every now and then, on top of the Fortan and homeopathy.
Why not try dental dry food as well? It actually exists!!
Look, I don’t know, but given what a bunch of jokers those vets are, I wouldn’t trust them with my dogs!
I’ve tested everything I’ve suggested; if they didn’t work, I wouldn’t have even posted about them. Can’t say fairer than that!
@Christelle The homeopathic remedy for tartar is Fragaria Vesca 3C. I’d already shared a link about the approach, but I’ll put it here again just in case: https://www.cani-seniors.org/topic/2678-tartre-et-hom%C3%A9opathie/ For Fortan, you can find it on reliable sites like Amazon or Zooplus.
Thanks.
I went for a second opinion elsewhere and it was a real letdown – they didn’t even look at my girl’s teeth.
I was just told that PlaqueOff and Fortan could be good, but only as maintenance after a professional descale.
And they told me to ring the vet back to ask for a post-op check-up.
So, she’s got a post-op appointment on Wednesday afternoon.
When I told the vet nurse that I was surprised it hadn't been offered to me, she replied that it must be because of her age.
I was absolutely gobsmacked by that answer.
Anyway, she’s going to have her post-op check, which will be a good chance to do a bit of a general assessment.
Well, he’s a total idiot! And of course there are other solutions, but since they don't make a penny from them, they aren't exactly going to shout about it!! Just think—a tube of homeopathy costs about £2 or £3, and Fortan is £17 at most, so obviously they don't make any money out of it!! And I’m sticking to my guns about the post-op check-up, I mean, really!
Hi, which reliable sites are there for ordering Fortan?
My Australian Shepherd had some tartar when he was about 4 or 5, but it’s all gone now. I’m not sure how it cleared up, maybe just after a run of harder dry food? (I switch dry food brands every few days.) I certainly wouldn't have a dog put under anaesthesia just for a tartar problem.
@Christelle, don't mention Fortan or Plaque Off to the vet, they'll just tell you it’s a waste of time – vets are only in it for the money! You can use Fortan alongside homeopathic granules to help soften the tartar; using both Fortan and Plaque Off might be possible, but I've never tried it because my dogs have quite delicate health. You know, if I’d listened to every vet, my girl would be constantly booked in for dental descaling. That’s just the way it is; it’s not my fault or hers, so I just said "enough is enough". Just so you know, one of her canines was covered in tartar, and with the Fortan and homeopathic granules, I managed to get the whole lot off! I showed the result to the vet without telling him what I'd used, and he didn't say a word. None of the vets know about Fortan as it’s a German product. As for the descaling, given the lack of a post-op check-up, I would have refused to pay if it had been my dog!
Yeah, for sure, not having a post-op check-up is really unprofessional.
And when I asked him if there were any other options, he just gave me a flat "no".
Don't bother mentioning Fortan or Plaque Off to the vet, they'll just tell you it's a waste of time. These vets are only in it to line their pockets!
You can use Fortan alongside homeopathic pellets, which help to soften the tartar. As for combining Fortan and Plaque Off, it might be possible, but I've never tried it myself as my dogs have such delicate health.
You know, if I’d listened to every vet, my girl would be constantly booked in for dental scaling. That’s just the way it is, I can’t help it and neither can she, so I just said "no more". Just so you know, she had a canine tooth absolutely covered in tartar, and with the Fortan plus the homeopathic pellets, I managed to get the whole lot off!
I showed the result to the vet without telling him what I’d used, and he didn't say a word.
No vet knows about Fortan, it’s a German brand.
As for the scaling, given there was no post-op check-up, I would’ve skipped it if it were my dog!
@Christelle Every time my dogs have had to be put under, they’ve had a post-op check-up; also, the length of the anaesthesia seems a bit long to me. I know every vet works differently, but the bare minimum is to have a pre-anaesthetic consultation to reassure the owner and explain the process. Anaesthesia is never risk-free; regarding the risk-benefit ratio, it all depends on how much tartar your dog has – though mine had teeth caked in tartar and I managed to get almost all of it off with Fortan! If you don’t feel right about this vet, there’s nothing stopping you from going elsewhere. At the end of the day, go with your gut! If you’re not feeling good about the vet or the surgery, cancel!!
Yeah, so maybe I'll try the Fortan + PlaqueOff before any kind of procedure.
I’m really surprised that my little girl didn’t have a post-op consultation or a blood test.
Tomorrow morning I’m going to get a second opinion from another vet and talk to them about Fortan and PlaqueOff.
He told me it takes about an hour and a half because they do every single tooth one by one.
