Ice for dogs?

SophieMonsterSophieMonster
edited March 2009 in Food, Nutrition, & Health
I was just wondering, as my pup was losing her baby teeth we'd often give her ice cubes to crunch on. I figured the cold would feel good on her mouth but now that she has her big girl teeth if we still gave her ice once in awhile would it ruin her enamel the same way as it does for people that chew on ice? We do give them bones/peanut butter from the freezer once in awhile too. oh and was also wondering do you all brush your shiba's teeth? if so how often?

Comments

  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    I give ice as treats when it is really warm out. They don't get it too often. They get their peanut butter filled frozen kongs more often (keeps them busier longer!).

    Miso and Sake get their teeth brushed nearly every day, but that is only because they think it's fun to snack on cat poop. :(
  • SophieMonsterSophieMonster
    edited November -1
    haha. ewww. cat poop! Do they pull away from you when you brush their teeth or do they learn to enjoy it?
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    They tolerate it although getting to the back teeth can be tough.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    Someone once suggested soaking, rolling and freezing towels for the teethers to gnaw and suck on.

    My dogs HATE to have their teeth brushed!
  • starrystarry
    edited November -1
    i give toki frozen plain yogurt to crunch on...and when it turns summer I want to try this water filled bone that can be frozen or not, cause i feel like toki drinks a ton of water and fast
    http://hartz.com/Hartz_Products/Dog_Products/Toys/Chew_Toys/3270002218_hartz_h_chew_o_aqua_bone.aspx
    I try to brush his teeth every other week...which ends up as me holding the toothbrush up and him chewing on the bristles
  • SophieMonsterSophieMonster
    edited November -1
    Ohh thats kinda a neat looking bone. I wonder if it is messy as the water melts/pours out? It'd be a nice treat for outside. How much frozen yogurt do you give them?
  • starrystarry
    edited November -1
    I fill an ice cube tray with plain non fat yogurt and let it freeze, then I give him a cube a day...it has that bacteria that helps with digestion...i should eat it too, but I don't like the taste and fruit yogurt bores me after a week.
    toki went through his teething stage, but he still LOVES to chew on things, like my walls...
    so I always make sure he has a rawhide bone before i leave...i think the towel thing is a good idea cause it would help clean their teeth when they chew on it
  • CrimsonO2CrimsonO2
    edited March 2009
    Wow, I never knew that chewing ice wears away tooth enamel...I used to give Ichi 2 ice cubes a day. Looks like that's grinding to an abrupt halt.

    Jesse
  • baantonbaanton
    edited November -1
    Josephine (and our former dog) liked to play with ice cubes some of the time. However, I have a theory that the rawhide (plain, not flavored) is the best thing to keep the teeth clean and healthy. The gnawing works the gums, the rawhide cleans the teeth. Our dog, Joe, had absolutely no teeth problems ever and the vets always remarked how healthy and clean his teeth were (lived to be 11 years of age). He used to go through a tremendous amount of rawhide. Josephine likes her rawhide chews, although much more now than when she was younger. Of course we had to start with smaller chews and have increased the size and "hardness" as she has gotten older. Beats trying to brush teeth --- sounds like it could be one of those difficult battles! I would say she uses up a square-ish chunk of rawhide every 2-3 days, and can be seen gnawing on it almost every day after she eats. We just generally keep the pieces accessible to her in the house.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Brush teeth every week.

    They get ice cubes occasionally, all things in moderation. Bones and nylabones are harder, so an occasional cube doesn't seem that bad.
  • SophieMonsterSophieMonster
    edited November -1
    aww. your poor walls. I am lucky our pups have not destroyed anything major like that! yea. i think brushing the teeth could be a battle. My boyfriend was suggesting we just stick to bones for them. Actually my shiba's breath isn't too bad but I was noticing our bull terriers breath is getting a little funky lately. He likes the rubber toys a little more than the bones so maybe his teeth aren't getting enough chewing in. but maybe i will have to try the yogurt in the ice trays (we have an auto ice maker, so prolly have to make a visit to the dollar store.) but i am sure she'd love something different.
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