The Dental War on Dogs

We had a comment asking for an update on our Dental Dilemma: VetzLife Oral Care Gel post, so here it is! Mum had completely forgotten been giving it time to work before putting up the final review. We have generously allowed her to add some boring human notes at the end. Disclaimer: This product was NOT provided to us, nor have we been paid to review it, more's the pity.

Dictating our post.

Important Note: Ask your human to buy the salmon flavour. Mum bought the peppermint because salmon was sold out. Rookie mistake Mum, we love stinky fish, remember?!

The Dental War on Dogs

On Capture, Torture and Tactics

We were captured just before bed time, and just after we woke up to have it smeared into our mouths. That's right, twice a day. Blech. This torture went on for several weeks. Enemy thought she was so clever getting us when we were sleepy. She has no hope of catching us when we're fully awake and cruising around at warp speed. Note to self:  Do Not Sleep.

Enforced Cuddle Time was put into effect for 30 minutes after each application. Enemy and Male Enemy tried to invoke Stockholm Syndrome response by giving massages, brushing our hair, and talking sweetly during this time. No nibblies were provided, so we did not fall for it.

Our chewies were held hostage for the first week, and we didn't even get our usual raw bones rations. We're sure this is a direct breach of the Crested Code, someone call the authorities!

After an eternity, Enemy dropped torture routine to once a day, and then once every few days. Clearly worn down by Crested Courage in the face of Human Horribleness.

Boring Human Notes:

I was mildly concerned at their reaction to the peppermint gel, so I tried some on my own gums, and it did make them warm and tingly. Not enough to burn, but I can understand why the pups disliked the sensation. I've since tried them with the salmon flavour, which they don't mind as much. 

The recommended dose is twice a day for ultra grotty teeth, once every other day for maintenance. The directions recommend withholding food and drink for at least 30 minutes after application, which is why they have Enforced Cuddle Time. Pretty easy to apply as long as your dog doesn't mind having their mouth messed with. Just smear onto grubby teeth, gums or lips and it'll spread around with the saliva.

We are guilty of hiding the chewies for the first week because we wanted to see if there were any clear results. It softened the tartar and assorted grossness, but it wasn't until their pig ears, kongs, and chicken wings were given back for their chomping pleasure that it really started to remove the gunk from their teeth. Possibly this would have happened over time just using the gel, but the pups were driving me crazy dancing around every night demanding something to chew on.

Overall, I'm satisfied that VetzLife Oral Care Gel performed as it should. Their teeth became cleaner with minimal extra trauma and certainly for far less expense than veterinary intervention. We've continued to use it on a maintenance basis, and any build-up from eating bikkies disappears quickly. And the vet hasn't been nasty to them since.

Porky Pups

Ella says:

So, the nasty vet pinched me and told me I'm fat. Is that any way to talk to a lady?! He called me a Porky Pup. So hurtful. He wants me to lose at least 1kg, preferably 2, and said that Jack could stand to lose around 1kg.

Doesn't he realise how much work is involved to get extra kgs? The sad faces I've had to pull? The bins I've had to raid? The pet shop girls I've had to schmooze for treats? The Daddy I've had to... well, he pretty much gives me treats if I breathe, so not really too much effort there, heh heh heh. And of course, Mum, instead of defending me and pointing out that I'm just a bit fluffy at the moment, AGREED WITH HIM. Foul treachery! Check out my physique to the left. I'm strong and confident in my Big Beautiful Woofer fur.

This is what's going to happen to the vet next time he says something rude to us ===>

The upside is we're getting even more exercise and good foods in an effort to slim down. Dad (and Mum if she's not on late shift) have started taking us for a walk at 4:45am because it's getting super hot in Brisbane now and that's the only time cool enough to be enjoyable. For our overseas visitors, Brisbane is a sub-tropical city and we're headed into Summer. It was 36 degrees Celsius (97F) at our house yesterday! Even worse, it's so muggy that it feels like the air is a heavy wet blanket trying to smother us. Bleh!

Anywoof, Mum said that we're looking more streamlined already, and that we'll all feel better for being fitter. Oh really? I don't see HER evening rations being halved, do I?! Growl.

Dental Dilemma and Review: VetzLife Oral Care Gel (Part 1)

Jack here. We had to visit the vet the other day, and after rudely shoving his fingers into our mouths and other areas they don't belong, he made two nasty comments. I'll deal with the first one, and Ella will growl about the second one later.

Jack's worst tooth.

 First of all, he declared that our upper chompers need some extra help staying clean. Mum was a bit miffed as we're fed raw bones, piggy ears, and we have kongs and other fun things to chew on. The vet told her that all of that is excellent and would usually keep our teeth pearly white, but he suspects that our mouth structure and breed is working against us ever out-smiling Julia Roberts.

Ella's grotty incisors/canine.

He made some horrible suggestions to try over the next 6 months, otherwise he's going to "put them under" for a "good scrub and scale". Put who under what?! Scrub is something we run through at the family farm, and scales belong on the dead fishies I like to roll in, don't they? I'm so confused. Ella had her head buried in Mum's armpit by that point (she's such a lady), so she thinks I'm making it up. But I know what I heard!

Mum is too lazy to try for a less reflective photo.

VetzLife Oral Care Gel in Original Peppermint is the first suggestion to clean up our chompers. So Mum bought some like the annoying goody-two-shoes that she is. From their website: "VetzLife produces 100% All-Natural Oral Care products, including Spray & Gels, which help remove plaque and tartar, reverse oral disease, promote healthy gums, brighten teeth and helps control bacteria that causes bad breath. The secret is a proprietary blend of grapefruit seed extract and other all-natural herbs and ingredients."

We don't particularly like the taste (Mum note: I would have bought the salmon flavour, but they'd sold out). I've mastered the art of sucking my jowls in and clamping my jaw shut, mwahaha, so at least I'm going down with a fight! Since we have weirdo reactions to a lot of common medicines, we're only getting half the usual dose to make sure it's ok for us for the first few days. So far so good. Mum is going to take some follow-ups photos to check on the progress.

She's also supposed to start brushing our teeth. See above re: jowl sucking and jaw clamping and start laying your bets on this happening successfully. On the upside, we're also to continue getting our raw bones etc, and Mum also bought us some deer antlers, which are supposed to be good for toothie cleaning.

I'll keep you updated on our dental dilemma.

Snuggles
Jack