Should I get my Dog's teeth cleaned?

[smurfalicious]

Third, I am all for raw diets. However, too many people that feed them do not feed them correctly and feed diets that consist solely of necks and wings because these are cheap cuts. There has to be meaty pieces in there: breasts, thighs, etc., or you run the risk of blockages from the bones. The necks and wings are simply not meaty enough.

You'll note that I recommended them for supplemental feeding to help get her teeth clean a safe, natural way. I merely mentioned that my dogs teeth have also benefited from their raw diet for emphasis.

Further, I really don't place much stock in the opinion of conventional vets. I've seen the ingredients on the insanely overpriced "prescription" diets they pawn off on people and they make me sick. Not only are people paying too much for them, they're effectively buying corn flakes and hot dogs dressed in a little left overs from the brewery.

Feeding dogs recreational bones, or chicken necks is a great way to not end up needing the cleaning in the first place. I think that's valuable info for anyone who cares about their animals health. I didn't know that until a few years ago, and I'm glad I learned. Lucky, my terrier was supposed to have a cleaning and within two months on a raw diet her teeth were gorgeous and my vet was amazed.

I can understand being dubious of the anesthesia free cleaning but the gals that do it are amazing. We had multiple cats at the first clinic and you never would have known. So I imagine that after 8 years of school the gals that do the clinic are aware of what needs to be done and do so.

[Heifzilla]

Further, I really don't place much stock in the opinion of conventional vets. I've seen the ingredients on the insanely overpriced "prescription" diets they pawn off on people and they make me sick. Not only are people paying too much for them, they're effectively buying corn flakes and hot dogs dressed in a little left overs from the brewery.

...

I can understand being dubious of the anesthesia free cleaning but the gals that do it are amazing. We had multiple cats at the first clinic and you never would have known. So I imagine that after 8 years of school the gals that do the clinic are aware of what needs to be done and do so.

8 years of what? School for anesthesia-free dentals?

As for the prescription diets, people need to understand they are designed to treat a particular issue and they do it. Most people do not have the expertise, time, or nutritional education to be able to fix an appropriate diet for their animals with certain health issues. If someone does, then by all means they should make their own food. But the prescription diets have their place. They're not perfect but not much is in life.