News you can use: Home Dental Care for your pet!!!!!

An important part of your pet’s overall health is good oral hygiene.  Just like in humans, preventing dental disease requires regular cleaning to remove any buildup of plaque and tartar on your pet’s teeth.  There are a variety of things you can do at home to help keep your pet’s mouth clean.  All the methods that will be discussed here are targeted at minimizing the buildup of bacterial film, of plaque, and preventing the plaque from mineralizing into tartar. 

  

Home Oral Hygiene:

Brushing: Of the home oral hygiene methods, brushing is by the most effective way to keep your pet’s mouth clean.  Ideally brushing should be done daily, but brushing several times per week will still be effective.  A soft bristle tooth brush and pet specific toothpaste are the only materials you will need.  Human toothpaste is not made to be swallowed and can upset your pet’s stomach if used.  Most pets will allow you to brush their tooth, but a gradual approach is best to get them used to it.  It is often best to start by holding up their lips for short periods of time for the first few days and then proceeding to massaging their gums with your finger or a piece of gauze for another few days before introducing the toothbrush.  Some pets prefer finger brushes or dental wipes, so it is important to be patient and find what works best for your pet.  Lastly, try to make it fun for your pet and make sure to offer the lots of love and reward during the process. 

Oral Rinses and Gels: Another home oral hygiene method you can try is chlorhexidine oral rinses or gels that are squirted into the mouth or applied to the outside of the teeth. These are designed to be safe for pets but can have a bitter taste that some pets will object to. 

Diets and Treats: There are a variety of diets and treats on the market that formulated to help decrease dental disease.  Some help to remove plaque through mechanical action based on the shape of the kibble, while others have ingredients to help prevent tartar buildup.  For dogs, rawhides or various chew toys can be beneficial.  However, bones and antlers should be avoided as they can lead to broken teeth. 

Choosing products that are beneficial for oral hygiene can be difficult as there are so many options out there.  The Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance can be found on various products that have been found to meet the VOHC standard for preventing plaque and tartar buildup on pet’s teeth.  A complete list of the products with this seal can be found on their website (www.VOHC.org). 

Veterinarian’s Role: As important as home oral hygiene is, it is also important to recognize if at any point your pet needs dental care to be provided by your veterinarian.  Some of the most common signs of dental disease can include: obvious bad breath, loss of teeth, discoloured or stained teeth, pain associated with their mouth, as well as appetite or weight loss.  Your veterinarian can perform a full physical exam, including an oral exam to assess what dental care your pet may need.  This typically includes a full oral hygiene procedure and full mouth dental radiographs done under general anesthesia to ensure patient safety as well as to fully clean the teeth, both above and below the gumline.  Regular veterinary visits can help to determine the need for professional dental cleanings and allow you and your veterinarian to come up with a home oral hygiene plan that is best suited for your pet in order to help prevent future dental disease.   

VCA HomeDelivery delivers all of your pets food, treats and medications right to your door. Let us do the heavy lifting for you. For more information about home delivery for your pet visit store.vcahollywood.com

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Rebecca Mycock, DVM