Dental Care in Pets
All pets start out owning a full set of clean, shiny teeth but unfortunately there are many that do not stay that way for very long. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook what’s happening inside the mouth of a dog or cat and before you even realise there’s a problem, dental disease has advanced to the point where tooth loss is unavoidable. Over time, debris from food mixes with saliva and oral bacteria to create an ever-thickening layer of crusty tartar, which sticks to the teeth and eventually creeps below the gum-line to erode the sockets of the teeth. Eroding sockets cause the teeth to become loose and also permits bacteria to enter an animal’s blood stream – something that may result in serious problems elsewhere in the body.
Some pets are far more prone to develop dental disease than others. In general the smaller breeds of dogs have overcrowded and/or misaligned teeth, allowing a more rapid accumulation of tartar and some cat breeds, notably the Abyssinian and the Somali, are renowned for developing early onset gingivitis (gum inflammation). Fussy pets who prefer softer foods and refuse to chew on anything hard, plus older pets overall, are also more likely to have tartar and gum disease.
So what steps can be taken to prevent our pets from developing dental disease in the first place?
Some training.Firstly, it is an advantage if dogs or cats are accustomed to having their lips lifted up to expose their teeth from a very young age – when they are smaller and easier to handle. It is something that can be done occasionally and slipped in amongst normal play and handling. It can also train you, as an owner, to be in the habit of checking the teeth to ensure that everything is normal in there, and perhaps even enable you to pick up on a problem in the early stages when it is still minor.
Diet.If possible, get your pet used to eating bones as a regular component of the diet. They should be raw and too large to swallow whole so the animals have to work at them. Gnawing is good exercise for the jaws and gums and helps keep the teeth clean. Bones can be offered from a very young age – even when your pets still have their baby teeth! Small dogs and cats might like to try raw chicken wings but unfortunately some animals never really take to eating bones properly and others may develop gastric upsets or constipation problems. Prescription Diets – Several pet food manufacturers have developed biscuits, which are fully balanced diets and formulated so as to reduce the accumulation of the rubbish that ultimately forms tartar. Different products employ different tactics to achieve this goal but the foods are usually well received and, if fed exclusively, they can work quite well. Chews & Toys.
There are several types of hard, chewy treats available (eg pig’s ears, Greenies, Dentabones, etc) which can be very effective at maintaining good, clean teeth in some individual animals. Similarly, you can buy certain chewy toys specifically designed for this purpose – some even intended for use with flavoured pet toothpaste. BreathaLyser.
This product is a drinking water additive for dogs and cats which is said to freshen breath and maintain good oral hygiene – without an unpleasant taste. Tooth Care.
Toothbrushes and toothpastes specially made for pets are available and, if used correctly, are very effective at keeping teeth clean. (We appreciate that brushing is not an option for some pets)! ‘Oravet’ is a relatively new product, which has shown some promise. It is applied once weekly to pets’ teeth at home and works by forming a protective wax layer on the teeth that prevents plaque build-up.
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