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Home Oral Care for Your Pet
Part 1
Go ahead - lift up Rover’s lip and take a look at those teeth. Look way in the back. while you’re at it, catch the cat and look in their mouth too (carefully). What you find may surprise you.
Dogs and cats are born without teeth. They develop deciduous or “milk” teeth at several weeks of age and these are replaced by adult or “permanent” teeth between 4-9 months. Once the adult teeth are in place, bacteria in the mouth combined with food particles, begin to develop plaque on teeth that can lead to tartar and eventually periodontal (gum) disease.
Much lie their owners, pets vary tremendously as to the severity of plaque/tartar formation. A few animals will have heavy plaque and tartar as early as two years, while a few may maintain a healthy mouth into their “geriatric years”.
Although most people are not overly concerned about gum disease, the condition can have serious complications. The tissue in the mouth serves as a bold barrier between oral bacteria and the rest of the body. When the gums are damaged, this allows these bacteria to enter the blood stream, resulting in infection and damage to organs such as the heart and kidneys.
What can you do to prevent this problem? Dry food helps, but on it’s own will not prevent plaque formation. Brush the teeth...now stop snickering. Brushing your pet’s teeth is not difficult, and if done properly can help prevent gum disease. If your pet resists brushing, alternatives are available.
Part 2
So...you’ve decided to go ahead and brush your pet’s teeth. Where do we start?
Begin slowly by introducing your pet to the idea that you will be handling his/her mouth (best results are achieved by starting at the puppy or kitten stage). Star with baking soda and a pinch of garlic powder (pets like this) and massage the teeth and gums using your finger.
Once a pet is accustomed to this procedure, you should graduate to toothpaste made for dogs and cats. Available in a variety of flavors from “malt” to “poultry”, these products make brushing more acceptable to pets. Some also contain enzymes or other products to aid in plaque reduction. Special toothbrushes are available for dogs and cats. for those of you not inclined to brush Rover’s teeth or those who may be willing, but have pets that may remove your fingers, there are alternatives. Beef knuckle bones are an old standby. Let your dog chew on one of these large bones for a few days, then discard. Never give small, sharp bones or bones that a dog can crush up -- your pet will injure teeth, gums or the stomach or intestines.
In recent studies, rawhide chews have been shown to reduce plaque formation when chewed regularly. Be sure the rawhide is large enough to prevent immediate consumption. CET Hextra chews are a special product impregnated with enzymatic toothpaste which further aids in reducing plaque. Dentees chews are edible chews that utlize acetic acid to reduce plaque. Cats are especially prone to plaque buildup since they usually do not cooperate with any “self cleaning program”.
Regardless of diet, chewing and even brushing, most pets will eventually need professional teeth cleaning.
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