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Pet dental disease or periodontal disease is a big risk for all pets. However, it can be prevented through regular home care (brushing your pets teeth) and oral exams at your routine vet visits. Here are some tips on how to protect your pet.
How do I brush my pets teeth?
If you have a puppy or kitten the best thing to do is get them used to teeth brushing at a young age.
If you have an older dog, it’s never too late… it may just take a little extra effort. Here are some tips for brushing your pet’s teeth.
- Start slowly – As with any training exercise it’s best to introduce this gradually working your way up to actually brushing the teeth.
- Use positive reinforcement – Encourage your pet to enjoy the experience with lots of treats and praise. Playing ball after the exercise is a good reward.
- Control their head – Gently grasp your animal’s muzzle from the top with your non-dominant hand, never applying too much pressure.
- Gently Rub – the sides of their face with your finger, lifting the lips and touching their gums and teeth. Repeat this using a gauze pad after they’ve adjusted to your finger, eventually working up to a soft tooth brush. Short repeated intervals of this followed by praise and treats will help them adjust pretty quickly.
- Use a pet specific toothbrush and toothpaste – Human tooth brushes are not soft enough for pets. Human toothpaste is not good for pets. It contains high levels of fluoride which can upset their stomach. We sell a dental kit which includes a pet toothbrush and toothpaste specifically made for your pets.
- Dental chews are no substitute for brushing – While there are some very beneficial “dental” products on the market like dental chews, treats, etc… These are no complete substitute for actual brushing.
Click here to watch a video on brushing your dog’s teeth.
How often should I brush?
Decorative dog imageJust like humans, many veterinarians recommended daily brushing. Realistically we know this is very hard, so 2-3 times a week is a good goal to shoot for.
Ultimately any home brushing is better than none, but it is important to remember that our animals teeth are a lot like ours. Just imagine if you went 4 years without brushing. It would be pretty safe to say you’d have some dental issues.
What about veterinary oral exams?
Ask your vet to do an oral exam at every routine visit to make sure you catch any potential problems before they get bad.
If your vet recommends professional cleaning it’s a good idea to follow their advice and have the procedure done. Professional cleaning is an important part of the preventative process. It will save your pet from future discomfort and health issues if left untreated.
How do I know if my pet has dental disease?
You can check your pet’s mouth for any signs of dental disease.
Symptoms include:
Brownish colored teeth; swollen, red, or bleeding gums; persistent bad breath; loose teeth or loss of teeth; pus between the gums and teeth; broken teeth and any unusual growth in the mouth. Reluctance to eat, play with chew toys, or drink cold water are warning signs of periodontal or gum disease.
If you suspect your pet has dental disease consult your veterinarian for an exam.
What about cats? How do I brush my cats teeth?
Feline pets are also susceptible to periodontal disease. It’s often harder to detect in cats because most cats don’t like us sticking our fingers in their mouths. They frequently don’t show any outward signs of dental discomfort.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has several extremely informative videos on the subject. Particularly helpful is the Brushing Your Cats Teeth video.
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4 Responses
Nice blog! Keep up the good work.
Great post! I love that you are taking the time to write about pet care. This is something near and dear to my heart. Take care.
a free online resource for pet health information and services, encourages you to brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis. Let’s face it, you don’t want to kiss someone with stinky breath. You like your kisses to be sweet, and from someone who brushes their teeth. The same should go for your beloved canine friend.
Cleaning doggy teeth is actually very simple. Because dog’s teeth are spaced more widely than yours, there’s no need for flossing. And you can use either a special toothbrush made for dogs, or a special finger glove brush that allows you to brush with your finger.
It is very important for pet owners to care for their dog or cats teeth and dental health. Very often, pets suffer from dental neglect which then requires extraction by the vet.