by Diane Dodin, DVM
Dental care is an area that tends to be neglected, especially with our pets. Dental hygiene is as important for our dogs and cats as it is for us. Just by maintaining your pet's teeth you can add years to their lives. Dental disease can cause not only gingivitis and tartar build up on teeth but it can cause infections that can enter the blood stream and effect the heart and liver. Severe tartar can cause enough damage to the tooth that it may fall out or have to be pulled out. Through daily dental care as well as dental cleanings, your pets can live a healthy life.
The best time to start dental care is when your pets are young. You can get them used to having their teeth brushed by using your finger on their baby teeth. You can introduce a tooth brush or finger brush to get them used to the feeling of having their teeth brushed.
Remember when brushing your pet's teeth, always use a dog or cat toothpaste. A lot of the toothpaste is flavored to make it a little more enjoyable for your pet. One of the common flavors out there is chicken. Even if you don't have a puppy or kitten, it is never too late to start brushing their teeth. However, brushing their teeth won't remove the tartar that is already on the teeth. The tartar needs to be removed with a professional dental cleaning from your veterinarian's office. Brushing teeth is a key component to prevention of dental disease.
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If brushing becomes a bit difficult to do, there are other options out there. There are oral gels that can be applied to the mouth daily that reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, which can reduce plaque and tartar formation. Dental diets such as Science Diet T/D diet have been proven to reduce tartar formation.
Chew dental treats can also help in the fight for prevention of dental disease.
There are many ways of improving dental hygiene. Just pick the one that best works for you. If you notice that your pet has been salivating or having difficulty eating, it's time to see your veterinarian.
Having healthy teeth will lead to a healthy life.
Diane A. Dodin D.V.M. works at Abell Animal Hospital, 6032 Northwest Highway Chicago, IL, 60631 ( 773 ) 631-6727.
