Dental Care for our Pets – Let’s keep them smiling!

We brush our teeth twice a day, floss and mouthwash, but what do we do for our pets teeth? 

Pets teeth need care too, and often their dental care is overlooked until it’s too late. Dental disease is common and often painful, and although our pets are great at hiding pain, there’s a lot we can do to prevent it. At home dental care by owners is invaluable at helping keep your pets smile healthy. 

Most pets over the age of 3 are affected by dental disease. Not only does it cause stinky breath, but it can also cause serious health problems for your pet. A film of bacteria called plaque builds up on the teeth, which over-time turns into very difficult to remove tartar. This bacteria sneaks in between the teeth and gums, destroying the gum tissue and making its way into the bloodstream where it can affect the heart and other vital organs.

Once the plaque turns into tartar, it’s almost impossible to remove without veterinary intervention. Your pet will likely need a general anesthetic, where a vet can then use an ultrasonic scaler to remove it. If dental disease is left too long, the damage to gums is irreversible. Prevention is better (and cheaper!) than treating advanced dental disease.

Every pet is different, and some are more inclined to dental disease. Their diet, chewing habits, breed and even how late their baby teeth fell out can affect how quickly dental disease will affect them. Even with the best  homecare, pets will typically still need veterinary intervention in their lifetime for their teeth, due to impossible to reach places. However, an effective at home dental care routine can slow the need, and is critical for reducing the buildup of plaque. If you’re concerned about your pet’s teeth, it’s best to talk to your veterinarian. Signs of dental issues can include bad breath, dribbling, difficulty eating and changes in eating habits. Annual health checks are a great opportunity to ask your vet how your pets teeth are looking. 

The most important part of setting up a dental care routine for your pet, is how well it works for you. Consistency is key, and dental care for your pets should be daily (This may seem like a lot, but remember that we brush our teeth twice a day). It’s important that the plan you set up is one that you can commit to, to ensure the best results.

A multifaceted approach is helpful with pets, as they often can’t get a consistent routine. We struggle to ensure we’re brushing every tooth surface, and we can’t ask them to chew with every tooth equally! We’re lucky that there are so many options available to help us look after their teeth.

Gold standard dental care for pets is daily tooth brushing. Brushing is really great for getting the front teeth, as pets don’t use these to chew. The idea of brushing your pets teeth can be scary, but with a little training it can be a great bonding time for you and your pet (with the help of some tasty pet toothpaste). Start by getting your 

pet used to you handling their mouth. This process is best started young, but can be done at any age – it just takes some patience. Your pet can learn that having their mouth handled means yummy treats. Find a pet approved toothpaste that your pets loves, like CET Enzymatic Toothpaste. A tasty toothpaste can really help with getting your pet to play along. Avoid human toothpastes as these can be toxic to pets. 

Brushing works really well on the front teeth, but it can be tricky to get to your pets back molars. Luckily, pets usually chew with these. Beware that what they chew matters, and some can be more harm than good! Dental pet chews like VeggieDents or Greenies are formulated to brush away the plaque when chewed on. A simple once a day fun treat for your pet can actually be brushing for you. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has an accredited list of dental products intended to reduce plaque and tartar for our pets – look for the VOHC registered seal! 

Make the most of their chewing time with Dental Care diets. There are a number of dental care diets available, which are specifically structured biscuits, with their shape, size and ingredients all tailored for plaque control. Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d and Royal Canin Dental both have VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) accreditation. These diets are a complete meal for pets, and work best when fed as the majority of their caloric intake. It’s important that your pet actually chews the biscuits (We all know a pet that seems to inhale their food!), but these diets are often tasty and an easy way to help deal with plaque twice a day. 

Another super easy dental routine addition are dental care water additives, such as OxyFresh or Aquadent Fresh. This is as easy as popping a capful into their drinking bowl. These are formulated with ingredients to help reduce plaque accumulation and battle bad breath. 

There’s so much we can do to help keep our pets smile healthy. Pick a home care routine that works for both you and your pet – and stick to it. Your pet will thank you for it with fresh kisses!