August 14, 2024 –
Thank you to Midtown Veterinary Medical Center for guest writing this blog, as part of our monthly Business Partner Program. Learn more about Midtown VMC here.
Dental care for our pets has come a long way over the last several decades. We now know that not only does dental disease cause profoundly stinky breath, but it can also can cause bacterial infections as well as inflammation of the gum tissue resulting in tooth loss. In severe cases, it can even contribute to heart and joint disease. In addition to routine anesthetized dental exams and cleanings by your veterinarian, there are many options for at home dental care in our pets.
The best is to brush the teeth daily with a soft brush and pet-friendly toothpaste. Start by offering the toothpaste as a treat for several days, then begin to offer it on the toothbrush, then finally begin to brush only the outside of the teeth with the toothbrush. Try to get all the way back to the farthest molars. With some practice, many pets learn to love toothbrushing and will ask daily for it.
The second best are treated chews, such as CET chews, VeggieDent chews, or prescription dental diets. These scrape the teeth (similar to a toothbrush) while the pet is chewing on them, and they leave behind an antiplaque enzyme that continues to work until the next time they eat similar to toothpaste. If your pet does not appreciate daily toothbrushing, giving one of these chews once daily will provide some additional care. I recommend treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) – you can find a list online of their approved products, and there will be a VOHC seal on the bag of approved products.
The last option for providing oral care are oral hygiene rinses that can be added to the drinking water or applied with a squirt bottle, or using an enzyme-treated finger wipe hygiene pad. You can squirt the solution into the mouth, add the solution to the drinking water, or use a wipe once daily. These solutions decrease unwanted bacteria in the mouth.
The best time to start a daily at-home dental care routine is today! You won’t be able to remove the hard brown tartar on your pet’s teeth, but getting into good practices can slow down the build up of tartar and help reduce gingivitis. If you get into a good habit now, after your pet’s next dental procedure it will be easy to stay on top of good at-home care and prolong the health of your pet’s teeth.
