From:
"amanda"
Date: 2011-06-28 16:59:09 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Alternative to dental cleaning
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I have 3 ferrets left, ages 7, 6 and 2. They are fed a homemade ground raw diet which they seem to be doing quite well on, but the problem is that since they will not CHEW on anything even remotely resembling chunks of meat or bones, their teeth are getting really bad. I have tried for ages to get them interested in chicken necks or wings, etc, and it is just simply a no-go for them.
The two year old is a good candidate for a veterinary dental cleaning, but the older ones are not due to age and insulinoma. Schroeder, the 7 yo, is being cycled on Clavamox for 10 days each month to keep infection down in his mouth, and it seems to have helped the redness of his gums, but done nothing for the hard tartar on this teeth. I have read about several products to help with this sort of thing, including ProDen PlaqueOff and PlaqueAttack, that are purported to be "safe and all-natural," etc, etc. but I have not been able to find much info on their safety for cats and ferrets. (I have an ancient cat with nasty teeth too!) It sounds like a great product, but I am leary about essential oils, etc.
I am wondering if something like grape seed extract, grapefruit seed extract, or colloidal silver would help break that stuff up without the potential for toxicity, or if we are just fighting a losing battle? I don't know how effective I would be at actual tooth-brushing for a wiggly ferret, or if it would even do much good reversing the buildup that is already there without some other kind of product involved.
Does anyone have any recommendations for something that might help with this, that doesn't involve general anesthesia and hundreds in vet bills?
thanks!
Amanda, 7 cats and 3 ferrets
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