Plaque buster tooth spray

[valb]

Has anyone used this type of product, and what
were your results?

I'm trying to avoid older dog sedation for a cleaning.

Thanks!

[KSdogowner]

Originally Posted by valb

Has anyone used this type of product, and what
were your results?

I'm trying to avoid older dog sedation for a cleaning.

Thanks!

I have used it for Max's teeth but find it to be useless.

[Chicagocanine]

I've used Petzlife spray, and I had good results. It improved the whiteness, got rid of plaque and also got rid of my Golden's "dog breath." It also improved my terrier mix's teeth but he still had to have several dentals because he had bad teeth and needed some pulled.
My vet recently recommended using the "Vetzlife" gel version as a toothpaste (with a finger toothbrush) for one of my cats who is young but already had some plaque buildup and irritated gums. The Vetzlife is basically an extra strong version of Petzlife that you can get from the vet.

[jetscarbie]

I don't know how true this is but I read it on an Amazon review. Reading several of those Plaque Blaster type products......there are tons and tons of negative reviews about how it made their pet sick or caused an infection.
I don't know what the difference is between all the plaque busting products...but just clicking on a few different products listed.....there are some pretty negative reviews.
I'm sure the stuff from the vet is different.....but those "as seen on tv" blasters are pretty terrible from what I heard.

Sure, Plaque Attack `works!' But a more serious question needing to be asked, "At what cost to pet safety and longevity?"

I am a clinician and formulary herbalist and clinical aromatherapist who founded a company that manufacturers among other products, a line of Equine and Pet herbal products. We also manufacture a Premium Line (for Adults) and Children's Line (the first commercially available line of true alcohol-free formulas for Children in the herbal/natural products industry starting in 1991). My company was the first company in the industry to introduce the Aromaceutical(tm) concept into liquid herbal products, e.g. adding a small ingredient amount of Essential Oils (EO's) blends into the finished liquid herbal products.

That said, an important point needs stressing here - Studies in Europe have clearly shown that EO's are toxic (and even poisonous) to small pets, but ESPECIALLY CATS! This is not hubris or something drawn out of thin air but a proven scientific fact!

12 years ago I developed and formulated a complete line of Pets products followed shortly thereafter with an Equine line of products. In both our Equine and Pets products NO EO's are used at anytime. Why? Because dogs and cats, and especially cats, cannot matabolize the heavy mole weight constituents of EO's, such as the terpines, esters and aldehyde compounds. These compounds build up in the liver of dogs and cats and over time WILL result in serious liver problems and damage, that can result in death.Even external use of diluted EO's solutions are damaging. Sadly, most Veterinarians don't recognize the symptoms for EO's toxicity/poisoning and can accidentally utilize a protocol that can exacerbate the condition. Why? Because nowhere in veterinarian medical texts are EO's listed as a therapeutical prophylactic, even as an adjunct. And give what the scientific community knows of EO's effects and toxicity, probably never will be.

Another interesting point is that according to company information, this Dr. George is a dentist who's schooling and degree are for HUMAN medicine. No where does it indicate he was schooled or experienced in veterinarian medicine. It appears he has never studied the `actual' physiology and biochemistry of small pets, or he (or the development team) would have understood that their physiology (especially liver/liver enzymes/metabolic pathways) are very very different from humans, especially as regards pets inability to metabilize Essential Oils (EO'S) ingredients, especially for cats!

He/she/them obviously has/had no knowledge or understanding of dog and cat physiology, biochemistry or animal medicine considerations. They have patented a product that has no reliable basis in clinical studies as to toxicity/poisoning issues as applies specifically to the Plaque Attack product.

As for the people who say they have used Plaque Attack for years on their pets "safely," well... that needs to be substantiated with a full liver panel of these pets to ascertain if indeed they have not been damaged with the EO's ingredients in this product, especially for cats. (EO's toxicity/poisoning is insidious and often only show symptom in late phase poisoning, when it's too late to reverse.) Those testimonials are a very shallow assessment and ignore the need for much deeper assessment of this premise done on a scientific basis, not cheap anecdotal stories that completely ignore the evidence otherwise and put innocent pets at risk. No matter how you cut it using Plaque Attack with its EO's ingredients is a form of cruelty to pets I cannot not broker.

I have studied EO's and their uses in general aromatherapy (topical use), clinical aromatherapy (internal use), herbalism, nutritional science, foods, beverages, confectionaries, etc., and have a highly weighted understanding of the physiological and biochemical effects on humans AND animals. Some have said I am the SME (e.g. the Subject Matter Expert) on this subject regarding EO's use as ingredients in natural health products, and for over 18 years I have collaborated with numerous veterinarians across the country who completely agree with my assessments when presented with the facts. In other words, I can safely say I know much more about this subject of using EO's as ingredients in products and their effects both short term and long term on pets (and humans) than the creator(s)/marketer(s)/purveyor(s) of Plaque Attack do.

Plaque Attack's EO's ingredients are contraindicated for pets in many respectable and credible texts on the subject both here in the U.S. and abroad, especially Europe.

It's just a matter of time before the makers/marketers of Plaque Attack will have to deal with lawsuits and regulatory issues for lack of bona-fide scientific support of their product as regards pet safety, especially cats.

Fact is, Plaque Attack comes off sounding like a team of experts put this product together, thus giving the appearance of respectability. Some questions however:

Who are the experts alluded to who developed the product, and what are they experts in?

Where are the long-term clinicals for liver effect and safety concerning this product specifically? In other words, where are the scientific bona-fides on this product specifically that the essential oils ingredients are indeed safe for pets, especially cats?

Why is there NO warning on the product label or at least company product literature that the product should not be used on pets with liver, kidney, skin or autoimmune problems? (Essential oils ingredients are pure antagonists to troubled liver, kidney, skin and autoimmune conditions.)

Why are they running in the face of the scientifically and well published fact, both here in the U.S. and Europe, that terpines, aldehydes and esters, as contained in essential oils ingredients, is toxic to pets, especially cats?

Has anyone inquired to see what their product liability insurance `really' covers? Does it cover the company and pay the customer in the event of death of a customer's pet caused by the product's use or is this point indemnified from the policy?

In closing, Yes, there is no doubt that the product does what it says, `removes plaque from teeth and freshens breath,' but does the product really do what it says as to being safe for a pet? Well... the science just doesn't support this claim and time will show it to be so. Are you willing to put your pet's safety and life at risk until then? They don't have a choice in the matter as that has been left up to you.

http://www.amazon.com/Plaque-Attack-Triple-Dental-Spray/dp/B004BFGC7A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328356292&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Plaque-Attack-Triple-Dental-Spray/dp/B004BFGC7A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328356292&sr=8-2

[valb]

Thank you, everyone, I appreciate the input.

[Jax08]

I use Tropiclean. I prefer the gel to the spray. I use that, wait 1/2 hour and brush her teeth. I think it works without the brushing but there are some teeth I really wanted to clean up.

[AbbyK9]

I feed the occasional raw chicken neck, which does a fantastic job keeping plaque off the teeth.

If I find I need to remove a bit of stubborn plaque, I do it myself using a standard dental scaler. You can buy them at Walmart, but my dentist is nice enough to let me take home the ones he's used on me when I go in for a cleaning, so I can use them for my dog. It doesn't require sedation, but just like Dremeling the nails, it requires some training and patience.

[Dejavu]

Oh my God, I've been using the Petzlife gel occasionally on my mini Poodle and now I feel scared.

It has helped some with his plaque/tartar build-up, but I'm not using something that has even a remote possibility of being toxic to him!

AbbyK9: Aren't chicken necks too small for cleaning their teeth? Does it really work? Is it the only RMB you give to clean their teeth?

[spiritsmom]

I use Petzlife on my older Keeshond and she's never had any problems, works pretty well too.

[Chicagocanine]

I used to use a scaler with my last dog, but my vet told me this could cause more bacteria to build up because it leaves scratches in the enamel. When the vets do a cleaning they polish the teeth so that won't happen. She also said scraping at home misses the buildup that's under the gumline. However shes not the type of vet who pushes professional teeth cleaning all the time unless the dog needs it (also she feeds raw to her own dogs).