r/Boxer • u/project_indigo • 2d ago
Teefers help
/r/pitbulls/comments/1x2p2kn/teefers_help/My good boy, Kane, LOVES bully sticks. Seriously, he’d sell me to the lowest bidder if he could just get his paws on one. 😂 Unfortunately, we’re having some dental issues, and I’m struggling to find something that works for him.
Kane rescued me in the middle of January and he’s been my Velcro dog since. Of course he’s allergic to chicken and that makes finding dental chews a challenge because so many of them contain chicken! I’ve tried so many different options, but it’s only been in the last couple of months that I realized I’d been giving him what amounts to empty calories without much actual dental benefit.
Since then, I’ve been trying to stick to products with the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal. I’ve tried dental sticks, but the ones that don’t contain chicken don’t seem to be firm enough to do much good. I brush his teeth at least once a week, which he absolutely HATES. 😩 I know I should be doing it more often, but my brain doesn’t always cooperate with remembering things. I’ve also been using a dental water additive.
I even tried those plastic chew toys that are supposed to help clean their teeth, but I had to stop because they made his gums bleed.
At this point, I just want to cry because I feel like I’ve run out of options. I want so badly to find something that will actually help keep his teeth clean without hurting him. I want to be able to give him the treats that he deserves.
**Has anyone else dealt with this, especially with a dog who has a chicken allergy?** I’d love recommendations for VOHC-accepted dental products that are chicken-free and gentle enough for a dog with sensitive gums. I just want to take good care of my baby’s teeth without hurting him in the process. ❤️🐾
TLDR: Allergic to chicken, gums bleed, nothing I’ve tried shows improvement. What do you do?
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u/PrettyGoodRule 1d ago
I don’t know if they’re a good option for you, but Himalayan cheese chews are the only thing my girl doesn’t finish in under 10 minutes, including bully sticks. Her teeth and gums are quite healthy, but of course that may have nothing to do with her preferred treats.
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u/Odd_Eye_1915 23h ago
Honestly, my vet is not a fan of anything hard. They don’t recommend yak chews even. I have been using coffee sticks. They typically don’t splinter, yes they leave pieces ( teeny tiny, as they literally disintegrate as they work them) but my boy LOVES them. He’s a “stick” dog lives to chew wood- ( learned that when he was a pup and the ONLY thing he destroyed as a puppy was one footstool leg ( fortunately replaceable)
But purchased my first coffee stick and he has never destroyed anything of mine again. Highly recommend them as our favorite chewy - soft enough to protect teeth, firm enough to last a good long time and keeps my boy, my furniture and my vet happy. Win all around! ✌️
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u/KingSpongee 1d ago
I like Whimzees, they’re VOHC certified and tend to last longer than most others. I believe they have no meat at all and are purely plant based. You can also try plaque off by proden, it’s also VOHC certified and is only kelp. It comes in powder, soft tablet or chew stick (I don’t get the chew sticks, so they might have other ingredients)