Like us, our pets require regular dental care, so here are some tips and tricks to help keep your pet’s teeth looking the best they can.
The best thing that can be done to keep your dog or cat’s teeth clean is to brush them every day, the same as what we do to care for our teeth. Most animals can be trained to allow you to brush their teeth, but this is easier if you start when they are a puppy or kitten. There are toothbrushes that can be used on dogs as well as smaller finger brushes that can fit over your finger so you can use them. Flavoured toothpastes are available as well, but if your pet doesn’t like them, simply moistening the toothbrush with water and then physically brushing the teeth is acceptable as well. If you are unsure on how to do this, please contact the clinic and a member of our friendly staff can go through the process with you.
There are many other options that can be used to care for your pet’s mouth that can be used with tooth brushing or instead of, if your pet won’t allow you to brush their teeth. Dental chews are a good way of both treating your dog daily and maintaining their oral hygiene. There are a number of brands available (Oravet and Greenies are two common brands) and some have additives that can help promote tooth health. A dental chew that your dog swallows whole, or eats very quickly, is not as good as one that requires them to chew at it for a longer time. Dental foods are available as well, with the main brands being Hill’s t/d and Royal Canin Dental. These foods work in a similar way to chews in that the biscuits are of a larger size which means your pet has to chew them, and this chewing act helps remove tartar from the teeth. Water additives are also available in a variety of brands. These are usually added to the water and help to prevent tartar building up.
If your pet has a lot of tartar/plaque already, then it is best to have them get a full dental scale and polish performed before starting with tooth brushing or dental chews. A dental involves your pet having a general anaesthetic and then a dental examination and an ultrasonic scale and polish of all of the teeth. We can perform dental extractions at the same time if they are indicated. Once the teeth have been cleaned, the above methods can be used to prevent and slow down the progression of further dental disease. We offer free dental checks to our clients so that we can discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure and give you an estimate of the cost of any dental work if it is required.
If you are interested in learning more about preventative dental care for your pet or would like to enquire about dental checks, please call the clinic and we can arrange a suitable time for you to meet with one of our friendly staff.
