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PDSA
Pet check for National Smile Month
DENTAL HYGIENE is as important for pets as it is for people.
Approximately 85% of dogs and cats aged three years and over
are suffering from some degree of dental disease so in National
Smile Month it makes good sense for PDSA, Britain’s leading
veterinary charity – to encourage good dental health in
pets!
Puppies and kittens are not born with teeth. The ‘baby’
or milk teeth appear from about 10 days onwards. They are replaced
by permanent grown up teeth from around 14 weeks. It is then
up to the pet’s owner to initiate the regular dental check
ups by a vet that will ensure any potential problems such as
loose teeth, decay or a build up of plaque can be identified
and the pet treated immediately.
Plaque is a harmful mixture of bacteria of food debris which
sticks to teeth. It forms into hard calculus which in turn causes
inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and also other tissues
which surround the teeth (periodontitis). Peridontal disease
is the most common dental problem in dogs and if left untreated,
this painful condition will eventually result in the tooth being
lost.
Healthy
Learning to conduct a ‘home health check’ is the best
way to keep a close eye on the condition of a dog or cat’s
teeth and get them used to letting you look in their mouth.
What you are looking for is healthy pink gums and strong, smooth
white teeth.
The most effective way of keeping your pet’s teeth clean
and healthy is daily brushing at home. You should begin by using
soft toothbrush and a special pet toothpaste available from
your vet. Never use ‘human’ toothpaste because cats
and dogs don’t like the taste or the foaming sensation!
Approach your pet from the side rather than the front and start
by cleaning a few teeth first of all and then build up to more
as the pet grows to like the experience and you feel more confident.
If your pet will not let you go anywhere near his teeth then
an oral hygiene gel can be ‘fed’ to them instead.
This is not as good as brushing but will help to reduce the
harmful effects of bacteria on the teeth.
To help matters you can also help protect your pet’s teeth
by feeding dental friendly food. A complete dry food diet is
much better for teeth as the food does not stick to the teeth
like wet food and the crunching actually helps to clean the
teeth.
Avoid sugary titbits throughout the day and stick to regular
feeding times to reduce the amount of time bacteria is attacking
the teeth.
With regular dental check-ups any plaque or calculus can then
be removed and follow-up advice given for better pet health?
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