How do I calculate tartar solution for a 6-gallon dog waterer?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Joshie's tartar build up isn't that bad. I think the best thing for you to do if you do not want to anesthetize him to clean the teeth is to be as aggressive as possible to prevent further tartar build up. Some dogs will allow you to try and scrape the tartar off with your nail or the Vet with instruments. But honestly they have to be VERY good as no one wants to get bit. So I would focus on prevention. He should have his teeth brushed at a MINIMUM of 3 days a week. I would put him on Hill's t/d food and take a look at this link from the Veterinary Oral Health Council on accepted products: http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html I would try to buy a dog tooth paste but the paste you are making should be fine. I hope this helps and I wish you and Joshie the best!

I usually recommend that dogs with excess tartar/rotten teeth have a dental procedure done at the vet. A dental will allow the vet to get most of the tartar off of his teeth with a water scaler and then polish them (just like they do for people). After a dental it is good to maintain clean teeth by brushing your dogs teeth at least once a week to prevent tartar build up. It is a good idea to put him on antibiotics for 5-7 days after the dental as well. The betadin gargles should be ok for him to drink at that dosage. If he starts to behave abnormally, stop the gargles. Ask your vet if they do dental procedures. If not, call around to diff vet clinics to see who does. Hope this has helped.

You have some great questions, and I will answer them in order :-) 1. Yes, a proper dental cleaning will require full anesthesia. It is never recommended to do a dental cleaning without it. It's dangerous and painful to the dog to do it this way, and a dental cleaning should only be done by a vet. 2. A water additive is a great addition to a dog's dental hygiene plan. I recommend Arm & Hammer dental water additive, you can get it at a pet store. Additionally, you can call your vet to ask for the name of the one they gave you for Giorgio. 3. I recommend the CET brand of toothbrushes and paste. You can probably get them at your vet's office or a pet store. 4. I recommend for treats Hill's t/d. It's a food, but you can give individual pieces as treats and it helps with his teeth. There are also dental chews. 5. No, I do not recommend trying to remove his tartar yourself. You can brush, but like with humans, he will still need a dental cleaning to get rid of all the tartar. Trying to remove the tartar yourself can hurt him, but do brush his teeth to keep them as clean as possible. I hope this helps!

Hello, you'll likely need to scale the tartar accumulation off of his back teeth so that you can have an easier time keeping them clean. Ideally, after their teeth have been scaled, brushing their teeth and using dental treats may help keep their teeth clean and white the longest. As in humans, dogs should have a dental exam at least every 6-12 months with a scaling and polishing as needed. Brushing daily and dental chews such as OraVet have worked the best for my clients in the past. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Dental biscuits are the best, they help tarts build up as the dog naturally chews through them. There are lots of brands that you can choose from, my preference goes to Royal Canine dental biscuits for small dogs.

Tartar buildup on a dog’s teeth is very common. The best way to prevent it is by brushing their teeth daily, usually in the evenings after their last meal. In most cases, unless the pulp cavity (the inner, live part of the tooth) or the crown (the whitish part of the tooth you can see) is damaged there is no need to remove the tooth. With a good dental cleaning (that must be done under general anesthesia) the tartar can be removed and the tooth polished so that the tooth can remain with the dog. If you are going to have a dental performed on your dog ask the veterinarian about performing dental x-rays. This will help determine the viability of the tooth. Once the x-rays are performed the veterinarian can make a better decision on whether or not the tooth needs to be removed. If tartar on the tooth is the only issue, there is no discoloration, cracks or fractures, or anything abnormal about the tooth, your dog will likely be able to keep the tooth. Pricing of dental cleanings very from clinic to clinic. Once you have your initial consultation with your veterinarian they should be able to provide you with an estimate. In the States a typical dental cleaning, depending on the size of dog and the problems present, can be anywhere from $300-$1000. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Best of luck.

The amount of tartar is relatively minimal. It likely doesn't require a veterinary visit at this time. If he will allow brushing, use a pet approved toothbrush and toothpaste daily. This will slow the progression. In my own experience (unrelated to Petco or Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach), water additives do very little to prevent tartar buildup.