[Rose n Poos]

We were finally able to get in and see a vet yesterday, fist time since Things Changed. In the course of the exam it was discovered that Neo has a fractured upper 4th premolar.

There is no proof that the yak chews are responsible but they are the only hard chews I've given the boys. (Skylar, I should have listened .)

Options are extraction, not ideal but likely ends the issue without additional anesthesia (sedation) for follow up xrays, or root canal with crown and additional anesthesia (sedation) for the follow up xrays. I gulped a bit, naturally, at the additional estimated cost of the RC and crown, but can swing it without worry, if needed.

Ultimately the xrays prior to starting any procedure will give a clearer picture but that won't be til the day of the scheduled procedure, so we may still end up with several rounds of general anesthesia.

Complicating factors are the fracture itself, straight or curved roots, and some other factors.

With yak chews out of the picture, I'm back to having to find edible chews that will satisfy his strong chewing need but last more than 5 minutes.

Just FYI, here's the list of approved and not approved items.

Approved

Appropriate Chews/Treats for your Dog

Products that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal are the ideal chew/treat for your pet when used regularly. They can help decrease plaque and calculus buildup that leads to periodontal disease in your pets.

• Hill's Prescription Diet® t/d® Canine
• Science Diet Oral Care Diet for dogs
• Canine Healthident®, Bright Bites and Checkup Chews for Dogs- all sizes
• Canine Greenies® & Greenies ® Veterinary Formula Canine Dental Chews- all sizes, regular,
lite and senior
• Purina Busy heartyhide Beefhide Strips for Dogs
• Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Diet for Dogs
• Iams Chunk Dental Defense Diet for Dogs
• Purina Veterinary Diets DH Dental Health brand Formula
• Purina Veterinary Diets DH Dental Health brand Small Bites Canine Formula
• Purina Veterinary Diets Dental Chews brand Canine Treats
• Tartar Shield Soft Rawhide Chews for Dogs
• Virbac CET ® Veggie Dent® Chews for Dogs, all sizes
• Milkbone® Brushing Chews for Dogs
• Dog: : ESSENTIAL™ healthy mouth ™ anti-plaque water additive
• Dog: : ESSENTITAL ™ healthy mouth™ anti- plaque gel
Other products we recommend:
• Kongs® filled with peanut butter or smaller treats.
• Virbac Animal Health CET® HEXtra chews
• Virbac Animal Health CET® Oral Hygiene Chews for dogs
• Premier™ Busy Buddy®
• Premier™ Tug-o-Jug®



Not Approved

Inappropriate Chews

Any toys or chews that are made with hard materials should be avoided.
They can lead to fracture of a tooth or excessive wear. A fractured tooth
can be painful and lead to a dangerous infection for your pet, especially if
left untreated. We know that they are often sold in high quantities for a low
cost. The low cost however, is not worth a fractured tooth.

We Do Not Recommend:
• Hard Rawhides
• Pig Ears
• Cow Hooves
• Ice Cubes
• Real Bones
• Hard Nylon



The key to management of periodontal disease, also called gum disease,
begins with a professional evaluation by your veterinarian. After an
examination, home care can begin with brushing. Daily chewing activity is
also important to keep your pet’s teeth clean. All chews and toys should be
given with supervision as some pets are prone to swallowing large pieces
or gulping down treats that are designed to be slowly chewed.

 

[Liz]

Mia fractured one of her lower canines when younger and had a root canal. It didn't turn out the way I thought: She looks fine, but the tooth was cut down to the size of her front teeth and is black, so it is noticeable. I wasn't consciously expecting human level cosmetic dentistry, but it was such a small fracture and the result is rather dramatic. If you're having a crown put in, maybe Neo will look better. It may be worthwhile to ask for a photo.

 

[fjm]

Ouch! As one who is still struggling with a broken tooth I sympathise. I think I would consider carefully about a crown - my sister has had three rounds of root canal work on one of her molars and it has played up repeatedly - she now wishes she had just had it out at once. Neo doesn't need to crunch bones to survive - my choice would be to remove the problem once and for all, unless there are issues with that proving problematic for surrounding teeth in the future.

 

[Skylar]

I’m so sorry to read this, poor baby. I hope he’s not in a lot of pain.

My vet warned me because he sees lots of broken teeth from chewing hard items. Raw bones are a big problem in the practice. Do you remember Mollymuima’s dog Molly broke teeth and had to have them pulled.

Unfortunately there really doesn’t seem to be anything that lasts a long time. When I make up my filled original Kongs, I stuff it with their food tightly, I tamp it in so it does take a while to lick and chew it out. I don’t freeze it. I use part of their supper. Babykins food is home made and texture of meatloaf. I literally squeeze the liquid out as I push it in. Theo is eating Freshpet puppy food. I plug the hole with a chunk of chicken first.

I wonder if playing tug with mom would give the same pleasure as chewing something hard? Maybe a rubbery squeak toy?

Basic rule my vet said, if you can’t dent something with you finger nail, it’s too hard for your dogs to chew.

edit for typos

 

[cowpony]

Oh no. Poor Neo.

I stopped giving Yak chews to Galen when he started biting them into large chunks, which he then swallowed and puked up later. His squeaky ball obsession currently seems to meet his chewing needs. He works the ball in his mouth until the ball disintegrates.

 

[94Magna_Tom]

Sorry to hear. I hope whatever treatment you go with, that it relieves his pain.
Elroy is pretty happy with his braided "Pork Chomp" chew. It's roasted pigskin rolled up into rawhide type shapes. The "ends" on this braided piece are separate smaller pieces that he pulled off (one end so far) in short order (I thew it away after a bit) but the braided part is lasting a long time...weeks a presume at this rate. Elroy is not a ferocious chewer, so YMMV.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pork-chomps-premium-roasted-braid-1128126?store=1493&cm_mmc=organic_feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-1128126&utm_source=Shopping&utm_medium=ECOMM&utm_content=Feed&utm_campaign=Core&cid=Shopping-ECOMM-Core--33&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0emHBhC1ARIsAL1QGNcX3EayGHOHQAtevxTDfvtbpuW0u1A9PKwehyT-ihS-YWhEYSsfajgaAqGJEALw_wcB

 

[Mel]

Oh no that sucks.
I stopped yaks chews after the first time trying them out . Sandy would make the worst sounds trying to bite it (cracking sounds)and I said nope she would break a tooth. Nova sounded like a beaver scraping her front teeth on them.

Did they say anything about Bully sticks? That what I use along with virbac dental chews once a day.

 

[Dogs4Life]

Sorry to hear this

Miracle came to me with a broken tooth, and so I have been very cautious as to what I allow her to chew. I used to give many different kinds of chews I thought were safe for my previous dogs, but I have been sticking to cod skins for her.

 

[The Popster]

We were finally able to get in and see a vet yesterday, fist time since Things Changed. In the course of the exam it was discovered that Neo has a fractured upper 4th premolar.

There is no proof that the yak chews are responsible but they are the only hard chews I've given the boys. (Skylar, I should have listened .)

Options are extraction, not ideal but likely ends the issue without additional anesthesia (sedation) for follow up xrays, or root canal with crown and additional anesthesia (sedation) for the follow up xrays. I gulped a bit, naturally, at the additional estimated cost of the RC and crown, but can swing it without worry, if needed.

Ultimately the xrays prior to starting any procedure will give a clearer picture but that won't be til the day of the scheduled procedure, so we may still end up with several rounds of general anesthesia.

Complicating factors are the fracture itself, straight or curved roots, and some other factors.

With yak chews out of the picture, I'm back to having to find edible chews that will satisfy his strong chewing need but last more than 5 minutes.

Just FYI, here's the list of approved and not approved items.

Approved

Appropriate Chews/Treats for your Dog

Products that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal are the ideal chew/treat for your pet when used regularly. They can help decrease plaque and calculus buildup that leads to periodontal disease in your pets.

• Hill's Prescription Diet® t/d® Canine
• Science Diet Oral Care Diet for dogs
• Canine Healthident®, Bright Bites and Checkup Chews for Dogs- all sizes
• Canine Greenies® & Greenies ® Veterinary Formula Canine Dental Chews- all sizes, regular,
lite and senior
• Purina Busy heartyhide Beefhide Strips for Dogs
• Eukanuba Adult Maintenance Diet for Dogs
• Iams Chunk Dental Defense Diet for Dogs
• Purina Veterinary Diets DH Dental Health brand Formula
• Purina Veterinary Diets DH Dental Health brand Small Bites Canine Formula
• Purina Veterinary Diets Dental Chews brand Canine Treats
• Tartar Shield Soft Rawhide Chews for Dogs
• Virbac CET ® Veggie Dent® Chews for Dogs, all sizes
• Milkbone® Brushing Chews for Dogs
• Dog: : ESSENTIAL™ healthy mouth ™ anti-plaque water additive
• Dog: : ESSENTITAL ™ healthy mouth™ anti- plaque gel
Other products we recommend:
• Kongs® filled with peanut butter or smaller treats.
• Virbac Animal Health CET® HEXtra chews
• Virbac Animal Health CET® Oral Hygiene Chews for dogs
• Premier™ Busy Buddy®
• Premier™ Tug-o-Jug®



Not Approved

Inappropriate Chews

Any toys or chews that are made with hard materials should be avoided.
They can lead to fracture of a tooth or excessive wear. A fractured tooth
can be painful and lead to a dangerous infection for your pet, especially if
left untreated. We know that they are often sold in high quantities for a low
cost. The low cost however, is not worth a fractured tooth.

We Do Not Recommend:
• Hard Rawhides
• Pig Ears
• Cow Hooves
• Ice Cubes
• Real Bones
• Hard Nylon



The key to management of periodontal disease, also called gum disease,
begins with a professional evaluation by your veterinarian. After an
examination, home care can begin with brushing. Daily chewing activity is
also important to keep your pet’s teeth clean. All chews and toys should be
given with supervision as some pets are prone to swallowing large pieces
or gulping down treats that are designed to be slowly chewed.

Bugger, we have had a heat wave here and have given the Popster ice cubes.
Shall think again on that one, as with other chews she has had.
Thanks

 

[Newport]

I’m sorry to hear about Neo’s tooth. Guess I will throw away the yak chew I have. I’m also interested to know about bully sticks. Violet loves them, perhaps a bit too much.

I think I would have the tooth removed if I were facing this choice. Crowns can be problematic, and how wound you know if it continued to hurt? Dogs are so stoic.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

Interestingly, our vet said yak cheese wasn’t likely responsible for Peggy’s crack and there was no reason to stop giving it. Sounds like we could easily get a completely different answer if we sought a second opinion. Argh.

Did your vet recommend immediate action?

Ours is taking a wait-and-see approach, which does worry me a little, as Gracie’s dental issues took a real toll on her health.

 

[LoveMyRedToyPoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this RosenPoos! My tpoo loves bully sticks, and seems to chew them easily (i.e. they're not super hard). I had tried the yak cheese, and those were way too hard for him. So seems to me that the bully sticks are easier on the teeth.

As an added bonus, he had two retained baby teeth that we were due to be removed at age 2 at the same time as his neuter surgery, but chewing on the bully sticks knocked them out, which was a nice surprise.

 

[reraven123]

Yak cheese can be softened by putting it in the microwave. Just put it in and watch it until it puffs itself. Turn it over and watch again until it puffs.

 

[Dianaleez]

Normie has to make do with one Virbac chew while we eat supper. It's the best part of his day.
(He refuses to eat his kibble until he's had his chew.)

 

[Rose n Poos]

Mia fractured one of her lower canines when younger and had a root canal. It didn't turn out the way I thought:

I think I would consider carefully about a crown

I think I would have the tooth removed if I were facing this choice.

I'm not really leaning toward the crown but based on the reading I've done, unless the roots are pretty straight and some other things aren't stars aligned, the vet said they might have to stop and refer him out after all.

I hope he’s not in a lot of pain...
My vet warned me because he sees lots of broken teeth from chewing hard items. Raw bones are a big problem in the practice. Do you remember Mollymuima’s dog Molly broke teeth and had to have them pulled.

Even knowing the stoicism of dogs, I see nothing in his behavior to suggest even discomfort, let alone pain, so I'm hopeful for that, for the moment. I remember MMM writing about that .

I stopped giving Yak chews to Galen when he started biting them into large chunks

Noel used to do that with the rawhides and after the choking incident, no more of those. Neo's a pretty strong chewer and had been getting larger than I liked chunks off but showed no interest in swallowing them, His thing is chewing and then carrying whatever it is around in his mouth,

Elroy is pretty happy with his braided "Pork Chomp" chew.

Elroy is not a ferocious chewer, so YMMV.

Neo is an avid chewer . Thanks for the rec. I'll look into those.

Sandy would make the worst sounds trying to bite it (cracking sounds)and I said nope she would break a tooth. Nova sounded like a beaver scraping her front teeth on them.

Omg, I know! Those sounds made me cringe. I should have heeded. Neo just loves chewing so, and is a very strong chewer so I was hoping that the long lasting and edible yak chews would be our answer.

I used to give many different kinds of chews I thought were safe for my previous dogs, but I have been sticking to cod skins for her.

I know, so many things that we now know better than to do

we have had a heat wave here and have given the Popster ice cubes.

If you find "safe" chews, try putting them in the freezer for a cool chomping session

Interestingly, our vet said yak cheese wasn’t likely responsible for Peggy’s crack and there was no reason to stop giving it. Sounds like we could easily get a completely different answer if we sought a second opinion. Argh.
Did your vet recommend immediate action?

As soon as the word yak came out of my mouth the tech's face told me what was coming next .
They didn't recommend immediate action. Their surgery schedule is out 2-3 weeks so I need to act soon but require more info first.

Did they say anything about Bully sticks?

They didn't. I'm going to call and ask for some phone time with the vet to go over some more of this. I'll update when I learn more.

seems to me that the bully sticks are easier on the teeth.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm going to need to find something that can be chewed anywhere, including on the bed, since that's part of his morning routine. Are they yucky messy?

Yak cheese can be softened by putting it in the microwave

I've done that occasionally with the leftovers but mostly just forget. I'm holding off on any chewables for now but will puff a couple again to see how easily they crumble. If there's no challenge to it, he'll lose interest, I think.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

We keep a stash of yak stumps to puff. Peggy gets more excited about them than the actual chews, but considering the mess they leave behind, I’m not sure how much actually makes it to her belly.

 

[LoveMyRedToyPoodle]

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm going to need to find something that can be chewed anywhere, including on the bed, since that's part of his morning routine. Are they yucky messy?

Bully sticks are not messy at all! They are 100% beef pizzle, otherwise known as bull penis. (I try not to think about that part) I make sure I buy the odor-free ones. I don't want smelly bull penises lying around on my floor. 😂

Also, if my 5 pound toy poodle can easily chew them with his teeny tiny teeth, then any dog can. They last a very long time for him. Here's a link to the ones I buy:

Amazon.com

 

[Mel]

Even some of the non stinky bully sticks stink 😅 but maybe just a bit less . It’s pretty gross.

Sandy is a heavy chewer and doesn’t stop until I take it away so I give her about 30 mins and put away for next time. Once it gets to a size that looks like she can get it stuck and can’t hold with her paws anymore I toss. I have had to pull out a thumb length size out of her throat going down before(she was gagging) . Just not worth the risk to let her have them when they get short. I buy the 12 inch size. It’s funny to see Nova chewing on her big bone.

 

[For Want of Poodle]

I feed soft raw poultry bones. YMMV, but I could probably snap them in my hand and can definitely cut them with a knife. Trixie gets chicken or duck wings or wing tips or necks, Annie gets turkey.

Lately I have been giving Annie bone broth which I froze into ice cubes. They freeze less solidly than a real ice cube, a bit softer, and Annie says they are fantastic.

 

[Dianaleez]

I can't imagine why I find the thought of stepping over dried penises littering my rugs distasteful.

Note to self: never tell Normie that bully sticks exist.