August is dental month across the Veterinary profession. This is to encourage responsible pet ownership regarding oral health. It is a time to check your pet’s breath and the state of their teeth and gums. Dental disease is the most common disease seen in Veterinary medicine.
Until we experience an issue with our pet’s teeth, owners would not be aware that 80% of dogs and 70% of cat’s overs 3 years of age have some form of dental or oral disease.
The common signs of this may appear as: halitosis (bad breath), yellow or brown stained teeth, red or bleeding gums, drooling, difficulty eating (sometimes chewing on one side only), or a greyish-white discharge around the teeth or gums. There are many ways to help prevent dental disease:
Professional dry foods have a dental component within them to encourage the cleaning of tooth surfaces and the gum line.
Dentipet paste and brushes allow our pets to have their teeth cleaned in the same manner as we maintain our own teeth. Animal toothpaste does not contain fluoride which can be toxic to animals in large doses. Dentipet comes in beef & chicken flavours which aids in pet’s tolerance with the toothbrush angled for easier access in the mouth. Do not use human toothpaste on your animals.
Greenies Dental Chews are a treat-based cleaning tool given daily that wipe away plaque and tartar build up from the surface of the teeth due to the chewing action. The flexible texture allows teeth to sink in to every bite down to the gums for effective cleaning. Greenies are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council for their benefit in dental disease.
Prescription Foods – Hills and Royal Canin both produce specific dental foods. These are preventative dental diets guarding against tartar and gingivitis which also supplies everyday nutrition.
DID YOU KNOW??
Like humans, kittens and pups have baby teeth which are replaced with adult teeth from around 4-7 months. Adult cats have 30 teeth whilst pups have 28 baby teeth and when mature have 42 permanent teeth. Give your pet something to smile about! Call the Greensborough or Rosanna Veterinary Clinics to make an appointment for a free dental-health check.
