Dental Care

Unlike the two-legged members of the family, our four-footed friends don't understand the importance of dental care. Without preventative care, this makes our pets more susceptible to gum disease, infections and tooth problems.

In fact, 60% of pets more than 5 years old suffer from serious dental disease, and in certain breeds of dogs (Maltese, Poodle, Dachshund and Chihuahua) and cats (Somali, Abyssinian, Burmese and Siamese), the proportion is as high as 80-90%.

How to prevent dental problems

As part of your pet's annual health check, we examine their teeth and gums and make recommendations about how to improve your pet's smile. It may be necessary for your pet to have a dental scale and polish if their teeth and gums already have disease present. However, long-term control and prevention of dental disease requires regular home care.

• Tooth brushing every second day. This is the best form of dental hygiene and many products are now available to assist you.
• Raw meaty bones (using Mother Nature's tooth brush). The chewing of tough cartilage and bone scrapes tartar and plaque off teeth, however, over time it may also cause tooth wear and fracture leading to possible dental disease.

• Dental exercisers, chew toys and special diets (e.g. Hill's t/d diet). These all assist in reducing plaque, but are rarely enough to treat advanced dental disease.

The important thing to remember is to start early. Puppies and kittens learn to accept dental home care as part of their daily routine, allowing you to develop proper dental hygiene early enough to prevent problems. However, older animals can also learn and benefit from the same processes. Regular and frequent attention to your pet's teeth will avoid annual visits to the Hospital for a professional dental clean, and will also improve your pet's overall health.

Dental Hygiene for your pet

Bad breath is caused by the action of bacteria in the mouth, and is an indicator of dental disease. If the problem is not attended to at this stage, it can progress until tooth loss, bleeding from the mouth and/or decreased appetite are seen.

Sometimes dental disease can lead to far more serious problems elsewhere in the body. Bacteria multiply readily in the mouth, and as the gums become inflamed and start to bleed, these bacteria gain access to the blood stream. They circulate throughout the body (a condition called "septicaemia") and lodge in organs, causing abscesses to form.

How can I get my pet to tolerate tooth brushing?

Starting your pet on tooth brushing may seem difficult at first, but with the right attitude and gentle persuasion, you will get there!

Because this is a very new sensation for your pet, take it slowly. Start by handling the mouth gently, using your finger to rub the gum line. Next wrap a piece of gauze around your finger, dip it into water and gently scrub the teeth along the gum line.

You can gradually progress to using special animal toothpaste on either an animal toothbrush or a soft children's toothbrush. Human toothpaste is not recommended, and neither is baking soda and salt, since this can cause problems in older animals.

When you first start tooth brushing, just lift the upper lip on one side to expose the outer surfaces of some teeth and brush them by making gentle circling motions from the gums towards the ends of the teeth. Keep the initial period short and don't insist if your pet starts to object. If you manage to clean only one tooth before your pet has had enough, fine. The main thing is to keep it from becoming an ordeal for both of you. Take heart from the fact that in one regard it is easier than doing your own teeth, because you only need to do the outside - the tongue does the inside job for you!

When you have succeeded in brushing some easy-to-reach teeth, go for the complete set. One way to open your dog's mouth is to put one hand across the muzzle and gently squeeze inward behind the upper canines. Tilt the head back and hold it steady (similar to when you give tablets). The less you restrain your pet the better. Start with brief but productive bouts of mouth opening and tooth brushing.

Even if you do not get far in the process, always reward your dog. Give praise and a treat immediately after each dental hygiene session. If you make these periods a precursor to more enjoyable things (such as dinner or a walk), your pet is likely to be more compliant.

If you manage a good brushing session every second day you will save your dog 90% of the dental disease he or she would have otherwise suffered. Brush daily and your pet is likely to avoid gum disease altogether!