Say No to Doggy Dentures!

We will never be able to teach our dogs and cats to brush their teeth but there are some preventative measures you can use to keep their dental health in check.

In the wild, animal’s teeth are kept clean and tartar-free thanks to the raw animals they eat. As unappetizing as it may sound, the muscle fibers, bone pieces and other body parts serve to both brush and floss wild animals’ teeth. Most of us aren’t letting our four-legged friends fend for themselves or feeding them raw meat, so we have to intervene. Common kibble not only doesn’t scrape and clean their teeth but it can also build up, causing tartar issues and various dental concerns. Luckily there are some simple ways to keep your pet’s teeth clean and their breath fresh.

“Just like with people, dental disease can lead to all sorts of major health issues for animals,” explains Dr. Mark Verdino, VP and Chief of Veterinary Services at North Shore Animal League America. Dental hygiene is as important to your pets’ overall health as nutrition and exercise, he adds. “Gum inflammation and tooth loss can be very painful to your animals and costly to treat, but they also can lead to more serious conditions, including damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys.”

Estimates suggest that, by the time they are three years old, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral disease. Some of the most common symptoms in both dogs and cats include yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line; inflamed gums; and persistent bad breath. A change in eating habits or pawing at the mouth can also indicate dental disease. But since dental problems often develop gradually, it’s easy to miss the signs until there is a bad infection. That’s why it’s critical to schedule a regular annual dental check-up with your pet’s veterinarian.

It’s important to brush your pet’s teeth as early as possible. The best time to start a tooth-brushing regimen is when their adult teeth are in, at about 6-9 months old. But getting puppies and kittens used to the process earlier is important.

Avoid dental products containing Xylitol, as it is highly toxic to dogs and questionable to cats. NEVER use human toothpaste to clean pets’ teeth and gums.

You dont need pet tooth paste, simply brushing the bacteria and plaque off with water will reduce bad breath and chance of dental diseases.

Poor dental hygiene can lead to dental disease. Dental disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth and can result in oral pain, halitosis, tooth loss and periodontal disease, and it can even affect the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract and joints. Also, a pet in dental pain is not a happy pet, and the pain can affect his/her ability to eat.

So do your pet a favour, keep their breath fresh and make those teeth last! No doggy dentures!