Copper seems to have very poor teeth.  Just recently he had a de-scale and one broken tooth removed at the front along with two loose ones at the back.  I notice already that the brown tartar is starting to reappear.

I returned from holiday on Friday and picked him up from the kennels and I noticed that two more of his front teeth are broken off half way up (this has happened since we put him in there).  The kennels say he didn't bash his face or have any incidents so I can't think how it could have happened except that he's broken them while chewing a bone.

Is it possible for dogs, like humans, to just have very bad teeth?  Is there anything I can give him to improve them?  He appears to be unaffected in any way and he's eating well but I don't want the situation to get any worse for him.

CG

Hi copper,

I've found with my dogs certain complete foods are worse for causing tartar than others :(  the best I've found is Burns.  Badly brown teeth cleaned up naturally when feeding this :) but don't know if it would work for everyone ;)  Many people seem to swear by the BARF diet for great teeth, but I haven't tried it as I'd need another freezer :(

Fragaria has been mentioned as a supplement to remove or improve tartar control.  Its been discussed on the forum so a search shold bring it up.

Sure someone else will be along soon :)

Maybe it is his food.  He's been really picky in the past but he's eating a lot better now so I'll do a bit of research to see if any are better for teeth.  I just didn't think they should break off very easily like they seem to be doing.  He's getting his booster jabs in a while so I'll ask the vet as well.  Last time she suggested a toothbrush :)  (which I didn't buy but I might get one and see how we get on).

CG

I would imagine that proper feeding while a bitch is in whelp and then while pups are reared is important for the rormation of good bones and teeth and that if there is any problem in this area then as the dog ages problems with teeth are more likely.

My 13 year old has worn back teeth but her teeth are still in great condition and she has marrow bones on a regular basis ans when they are new will spend most of the day chewing one.  she only gets a bit of tartar on the canines if she hasn;'t had a new one for a while as she doesn't bother with them once they ahve lost theier flavour, unlike the others who will return to the DEAD bones for a repeat chew.

My nearly 12 year old has wonderful white teeth that I've only cleaned with a toothbrush about 3 times in all of her life.  She has two teeth at the bottom front which have worn right down but other than that still has perfect teeth.  I have to admit that I feed my dogs what I can afford in dry food, but they do also have bones and raw meat too.  I don't know if Spanish have good teeth though saying that the one that I had from SPain didn't have brilliantly clean teeth but within 3 weeks they were nearly white!!