Gingivitis and gum tumours
- Thread starter Billysmum
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A waterpik is a ultrasonic type cleaner that uses water to flush plaque and tartar off of the teeth and under the gums. I also work at a dental office and we humans use them all of the time. They wont clean off all of the tartar though, so professional cleanings are still recommended. I was also wondering if surgery can be performed on a dog that has a heart murmur like humans, with a dose of antibiotics!?!?!? People that have surgeries and have heart murmurs most of the time are prescribed antibiotics like amoxicillin.
BE CAREFUL.......MESSY, MESSY, MESSY
I had braces for 5 yrs, used a sonicare toothbrush and a waterpik.
Cooper LOVES both of them:D I do not let him use my toothbrush but I got him a child-size spin brush and he thinks it's the koolest!!
the waterpik is another story.....you all know what it is like to take them out back and play with the hose!?!?!
well, the waterpik is no different!
just indoors:D
good luck with the waterpik
Kodie, Cooper & Arley
I had braces for 5 yrs, used a sonicare toothbrush and a waterpik.
Cooper LOVES both of them:D I do not let him use my toothbrush but I got him a child-size spin brush and he thinks it's the koolest!!
the waterpik is another story.....you all know what it is like to take them out back and play with the hose!?!?!
well, the waterpik is no different!
just indoors:D good luck with the waterpik
Kodie, Cooper & Arley
Aimee
Boxer Insane
Oh my, the description messy hit the nail on the head. We went out and bought a waterpik and I tried it for the first time tonight on Baxter. I had never used a waterpik before and had no idea how to work it. I skimmed the directions enough to get it up and running and then called Baxter into the bathroom. The cord on the waterpik is short and it has to be left on the counter so I layered the bathroom in towels and we began. What I didn't realize was that the water comes out of the hose whether it's on or not if the hose is held below the water tank. While getting Baxter, I had laid the pik on the counter and came back to a small flood on the counter. Got that cleaned up and was ready to begin again. As I lowered the pik towards Baxter it began to spit water all over him before I even turned it on. Needless to say, so far he is not impressed. I finally strategically get it into his mouth and turn it on and OMG, I wish I had a camera at the time for his expression. Baxter quickly got out of the line of fire and the walls ended up with a thorough cleaning courtesy of the waterpik. We had to repeat this several times. In the end, I was soaked, he was soaked and the entire bathroom was soaked 
Tomorrow I will be hooking the waterpik up to an extension cord, putting on my bathing suit and waterpiking Baxter in the bathtub. For anyone wanting to try this at home, I recommend the same 
Tomorrow I will be hooking the waterpik up to an extension cord, putting on my bathing suit and waterpiking Baxter in the bathtub. For anyone wanting to try this at home, I recommend the same
Aimee
Boxer Insane
On the waterpik that I bought (which is the brand waterpik) you can adjust the speed of the water coming out. I had the pik on a higher speed at first and then realized that the speed of the water coming out was what probably startled him at first. Once I slowed it down, it was easier to manage
I think that as he (and I) get used to the process, it will get easier. I am going to try him in the tub tomorrow on the lowest speed and gradually work him up to what he can tolerate Let me know how your first waterpik experience works out! A scuba suit isn't a bad idea, trust me on this one
Aimee
Boxer Insane
WARNING
Do not skim the directions on your waterpik. I just read that the squishy gray button on the side of the pik itself is to shut off waterflow. It just looks like an ergonomic place to put your finger but it actually shuts off the flow of water when you push it. Once you release the button, the water flow begins again. Now that I know this, this whole thing just got a lot easier. The only reason I am admitting to this oversight is to prevent anyone else from making my "skimming" out of excitement mistake I think this button will also completely deplete any risk of choking on the water. I'd recommend looking for a model that has this same button!
Also, I just used the waterpik myself (yes, I used a different tip ) and it actually is uncomfortable if I go higher than the second speed. My advice is to try it out on yourself first. Another mistake I made by being too hasty :o
Do not skim the directions on your waterpik. I just read that the squishy gray button on the side of the pik itself is to shut off waterflow. It just looks like an ergonomic place to put your finger but it actually shuts off the flow of water when you push it. Once you release the button, the water flow begins again. Now that I know this, this whole thing just got a lot easier. The only reason I am admitting to this oversight is to prevent anyone else from making my "skimming" out of excitement mistake
I think this button will also completely deplete any risk of choking on the water. I'd recommend looking for a model that has this same button!Also, I just used the waterpik myself (yes, I used a different tip
) and it actually is uncomfortable if I go higher than the second speed. My advice is to try it out on yourself first. Another mistake I made by being too hasty :oWent to the vet
I took Cooper into the vet on Saturday about his gums and tumors as well.
I was told by the vet that this sort of thing happens to the flat faced breeds or those breeds with an under-bite. The reason being is because of their jowls, some boxers have tight jowls and others have loose and this can also determine how much one drools or slobbers. It is the loose jowled dogs that are more prone to getting this because of the bacteria build up they have in their mouth due to the drooling and slobbering instead of swallowing, it kind of makes sense to me.
She told me that his are not bad enough for surgery at this time and to check back in 6 months and we will check them again. In the meantime she told me to buy some listerine (the new kind.... citrus) because it is not as potient and he may take to it better but while he was sleeping to dip a Q-tip in the listerine and swab his gum line to help reduce the bacteria that builds up, she advised to do that as many times a day if permitted especially after meals. Then there is a enzyme toothpaste you can use as well, brush the teeth and then you can leave the paste in his mouth and this too will help reduce the bacteria, there are also some enzyme chews you can pick up at the vets that will do the same thing. So I bought the paste, the chews and the citrus listerine, he likes the chews and loves the listerine:D I am going to keep doing this as often as I can and see if it works. She said that his breath will improve when you kill the bacteria on a regular basis. I guess we have nothing to loose and fresh breath to gain:p
I took Cooper into the vet on Saturday about his gums and tumors as well.
I was told by the vet that this sort of thing happens to the flat faced breeds or those breeds with an under-bite. The reason being is because of their jowls, some boxers have tight jowls and others have loose and this can also determine how much one drools or slobbers. It is the loose jowled dogs that are more prone to getting this because of the bacteria build up they have in their mouth due to the drooling and slobbering instead of swallowing, it kind of makes sense to me.
She told me that his are not bad enough for surgery at this time and to check back in 6 months and we will check them again. In the meantime she told me to buy some listerine (the new kind.... citrus) because it is not as potient and he may take to it better but while he was sleeping to dip a Q-tip in the listerine and swab his gum line to help reduce the bacteria that builds up, she advised to do that as many times a day if permitted especially after meals. Then there is a enzyme toothpaste you can use as well, brush the teeth and then you can leave the paste in his mouth and this too will help reduce the bacteria, there are also some enzyme chews you can pick up at the vets that will do the same thing. So I bought the paste, the chews and the citrus listerine, he likes the chews and loves the listerine:D I am going to keep doing this as often as I can and see if it works. She said that his breath will improve when you kill the bacteria on a regular basis. I guess we have nothing to loose and fresh breath to gain:p
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