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Science Diet t/d® Canine is a prescription diet for dogs with dental issues such as gum disease. If you are concerned about the quality of the food he/she is recommending then then ask your vet about other options. If you don't trust your vet then you need to find one that you do.
Keeping your dogs teeth in top shape is a must. Dental problems in pets, as in humans can lead to other health problems.
There is a wide variety of options on the market to today. I agree that chewing is a great benefit to the health of our pets teeth and gums, however I would be very careful with real bones. They can split and crack, get lodged in the throat and cause digestive problems. Rawhide and hard nylar bones are good but always supervise your pet when letting them have at these. I have used the nylar bones for years on a regular basis and my oldest Pug who is 13 has never had to have her teeth cleaned. Our vet was amazed at the condition of her teeth. What ever a pet uses for chewing make sure that it is hard and doesn't break into smaller pieces that the dog could choke on and make sure that it is digestible and of course only let them chew under supervision.
Our dogs are not wild anymore they have been domesticated for some time. Making your own food is a good idea however keep in mind all the nutrients that the dog needs when doing so and make sure to incorporate these into the diet also.
Source(s):
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/keeping-your-dog-s-teeth-healthy/page1.aspx
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Source(s):
http://wigglets.vox.com/library/post/the-science-diet-scam.html
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donc
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I have always fed my current dog Nutro which you can get at PetsMart. The key is really the first ingredient on the list of ingredients.
I went to buy a bag of Nutro small bites senior dog food, but PetsMart was out or they don't make it anymore (not quite sure). The manager at PetsMart tried to talk me into getting Science Diet and gave me a $4 off coupon. I had the bag in tow and started walking up to the counter to pay. I decided to look at the ingredient list. The first ingredient was corn, and I put it back. I got a different kind of Nutro dog food, because the first ingredient is lamb or rice (I can't remember).
Avoid corn based dog foods! Dogs were not intended to eat corn, and their bodies don't process it well which leads to gas and intestinal issues.
Hope that helps.
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You say you want your dog to eat "at least human grade food". It really isn't difficult to prepare fresh food for your dog, using bones, raw meat, vegetables and other ingredients to mimic the natural diet of wolves in the wild. Your dogs should get bones to chew on every day.
I feed my two Labrador retrievers a mix of fresh kangaroo mince (I'm in Australia, duh), frozen diced vegetables (peas/carrots/beans/etc), oatmeal, baked beans (!), pineapple (!!) and fish meal, plus bones. Have never had a moment's trouble since switching them off SD.
Source(s):
"Give Your Dog a Bone" and "Grow Your Pups with Bones" by Dr Ian Billinghurst. See http://www.barfaustralia.com for more information on the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet.
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Consider this article on Human cleanings before you go broke on your pet.
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/is-tooth-cleaning-a-scam/
And, before you pay out the ying-yang for another "cleaning", consider just doing it yourself with a "nubby finger", and buying proper chew toys.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/teeth.htm
Source(s):
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/is-tooth-cleaning-a-scam/
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/teeth.htm
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Answered Question
M$2
December 17, 2008 09:54 PM
Our vet suggests we use Science Diet t/d® Canine, and continue to after they do a cleaning. Is this a scam?
Some more details:
- Our dog's teeth are fine, but have a fair amount of tartar
- We feed our dog Wellness today
- I am skeptical about Hills/Science Diet before the pet food scandal.
- I would like our dog to eat at least human grade food.
Slight clarification:
- I know in general SD is scam or just selling a brand, but wonder what folks do to help canine teeth health?
- Our dog's teeth are fine, but have a fair amount of tartar
- We feed our dog Wellness today
- I am skeptical about Hills/Science Diet before the pet food scandal.
- I would like our dog to eat at least human grade food.
Slight clarification:
- I know in general SD is scam or just selling a brand, but wonder what folks do to help canine teeth health?
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Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| December 18, 2008 12:17 PM |
Keeping your dogs teeth in top shape is a must. Dental problems in pets, as in humans can lead to other health problems.
There is a wide variety of options on the market to today. I agree that chewing is a great benefit to the health of our pets teeth and gums, however I would be very careful with real bones. They can split and crack, get lodged in the throat and cause digestive problems. Rawhide and hard nylar bones are good but always supervise your pet when letting them have at these. I have used the nylar bones for years on a regular basis and my oldest Pug who is 13 has never had to have her teeth cleaned. Our vet was amazed at the condition of her teeth. What ever a pet uses for chewing make sure that it is hard and doesn't break into smaller pieces that the dog could choke on and make sure that it is digestible and of course only let them chew under supervision.
Our dogs are not wild anymore they have been domesticated for some time. Making your own food is a good idea however keep in mind all the nutrients that the dog needs when doing so and make sure to incorporate these into the diet also.
Source(s):
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/keeping-your-dog-s-teeth-healthy/page1.aspx
| Asker's Rating: |
• Thanks, this was great..
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Other Answers (8)
December 17, 2008 09:58 PM
Science Diet is a scam. It's not a "premium" food as they market it to be. You can look at the ingredients and compare them to other foods of the same price and there's a clear difference. But many people see vets and even shelters and rescue groups using and promoting this food so they think it's quality without doing any research themselves.
Source(s):
http://wigglets.vox.com/library/post/the-science-diet-scam.html
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donc
December 17, 2008 10:10 PM
I understand that SD isn't premium, that originally was our switch to Wellness.. but was wondering what beyond care brushing if food supplement was necessary?
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December 17, 2008 10:48 PM
Nutritional Supplements: Are not necessary with a balanced dog food but some feel that these can aid in digestion. Raw fruits and veggies, plain nonfat yogurt, Brewer's yeast and dried, powdered kelp. The Brewer's yeast may also be effective in controlling fleas. These are harmless, just watch for diarrhea as a sign of an upset belly. There are special supplements for debilitated or sick dogs. Use these under a vets orders.
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December 17, 2008 10:02 PM
If the ONLY reason your vet has assigned your dog to the Science Diet food is because of his teeth, you can definitely do better than that. Try Wolf King instead; it's a better grade food and is better for your dog, especially if he suffers from any sort of allergy.
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December 17, 2008 10:08 PM
If your dog's main problem are it's teeth, then your going to have to change up eating habits anyhow. Give him crunchier food, and try tossing him some bones. Since dogs(and pretty much all wild animals are like this) don't brush their teeth, they use portions of food to do it for them. After the kill, they will gnaw and crack bones to get to the marrow...this action cleans the teeth by acting like a dentist pick, scraping build-up off. Just remember, DOGS NEED TO CHEW...
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December 17, 2008 10:13 PM
Science Diet is a sham. I have always fed my current dog Nutro which you can get at PetsMart. The key is really the first ingredient on the list of ingredients.
I went to buy a bag of Nutro small bites senior dog food, but PetsMart was out or they don't make it anymore (not quite sure). The manager at PetsMart tried to talk me into getting Science Diet and gave me a $4 off coupon. I had the bag in tow and started walking up to the counter to pay. I decided to look at the ingredient list. The first ingredient was corn, and I put it back. I got a different kind of Nutro dog food, because the first ingredient is lamb or rice (I can't remember).
Avoid corn based dog foods! Dogs were not intended to eat corn, and their bodies don't process it well which leads to gas and intestinal issues.
Hope that helps.
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December 17, 2008 10:24 PM
@skitt: Exactly my advice, except I'd add to avoid soy and wheat as well. Dogs don't have the right enzymes to digest processed grains, and what results ranges from simply larger, smellier stools, to skin and kidney problems. Nutro is a good choice but there are others.
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December 18, 2008 03:11 AM
All pre-packed dog foods represent a compromise at best and a scam at worst. Despite the claims made on the package, pretty much all dry dog foods contain excessive amounts of sugar and additives. You say you want your dog to eat "at least human grade food". It really isn't difficult to prepare fresh food for your dog, using bones, raw meat, vegetables and other ingredients to mimic the natural diet of wolves in the wild. Your dogs should get bones to chew on every day.
I feed my two Labrador retrievers a mix of fresh kangaroo mince (I'm in Australia, duh), frozen diced vegetables (peas/carrots/beans/etc), oatmeal, baked beans (!), pineapple (!!) and fish meal, plus bones. Have never had a moment's trouble since switching them off SD.
Source(s):
"Give Your Dog a Bone" and "Grow Your Pups with Bones" by Dr Ian Billinghurst. See http://www.barfaustralia.com for more information on the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet.
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December 18, 2008 04:45 AM
Of course. The whole thing's a scam. 20-30 years ago, there wasn't a dog in the country with either a "science diet" or a toothbrush in its mouth. They're selling to your fears and your preconceived notions about "health", and letting you transfer those notions to your pets (at a healthy price-tag.) Consider this article on Human cleanings before you go broke on your pet.
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/is-tooth-cleaning-a-scam/
And, before you pay out the ying-yang for another "cleaning", consider just doing it yourself with a "nubby finger", and buying proper chew toys.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/teeth.htm
Source(s):
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/is-tooth-cleaning-a-scam/
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/teeth.htm
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