Aspen doesn’t have great teeth and I am wondering if it partly has to do with him not chewing his kibbles? He really has bad brown teeth but never had parvo or anything as a puppy. He seems to just swallow his food when he eats, and I will even put balls in his bowl to eat around, he will get fed out of a rolling ball dispenser and hand fed occasionally. He just sucks it all down without chewing even if he isn’t eating fast. I don’t know what the problem is and it concerns me because everyone else’s dog has perfectly white teeth even without brushing. I will ask his vet about this issue at his 1 year appointment. He should have basically perfect teeth at 1 year, shouldn’t he?
Axel has never chewed his kibble either, but at two years old I noticed tarter build up on his back canines with also fresh tarter on some other molars. He chews his bones and such for recreation so I was shocked to see the build up. But I have been brushing his teeth religiously now for a couple months and I’m seeing a good improvement. So I would suggest brushing his teeth and having chews for him to gnaw on (If you don’t already). Axel just had his annual vaccinations and the vet told me that his teeth are quite excellent and that the tarter left on his back molars is fresh enough that with me brushing them daily will remove it in time.
My boy is fed raw meaty bones and meat, and he chews his food well. But if gets into the neighbor’s dog’s kibble, he vacuums it up, no chewing at all! He has lovely teeth, never been brushed. Kibble is quite sticky and higher carb (mouth bacteria generally like sugars) and does mean teeth need to brushed.
Homer swallows his kibble whole. I know because it comes out when he's ill. Homer has a Dentistix after dinner, I was concerned as he'd chew them so quickly but the vet assures me that they do still help keep the plaque at bay. Homer doesn't have good teeth with, they got warn quite badly as a young dog with too much chewing on antlers, nylabones and tennis balls.
