CARING FOR YOUR PETS TEETH

Approximately 85 % of dogs and cats over 2 years of age have a degree of tooth and gum disease. The problem begins when plaque and tartar build up on the tooth, the plaque harbours the bacteria which then cause gum disease. The process continues causing tooth loss and abscesses. The bacteria also enter the bloodstream causing a blood poisoning and can result in life- threatening kidney, heart and liver disease.

Prevention is definitely better than cure in tem of gum disease. A general anaesthetic to descale and remove diseased teeth is best avoided if possible. in many cases such surgery can be prevented by good dental hornecare. Dental advice is a common topic in our nurse clinics, some of the things we may recommend are:

..diet- This is a major factor in the development of plaque, animals reared entirely on dry biscuits rather than moist food will in general have fewer dental problems. We stock diets designed to prevent dental disease in your pet. We often recommend a prescription diet ( Hill's T/D ) in pets with dental disease as a prevention and treatment.

..toothbrushing-Train your pet from an early age and it will happily allow you to brush its teeth. Special pet toothpaste is designed with enzymes to break down plaque and kill oral bacteria.

..mouthwashes- these are a compromise often used if your pet does not allow you to brush its teeth, they help retard bacterial growth.
A chlohexidine gel is often advised for cats which suffer from tooth ' lesions '.

..chews- these come in several types, CET chews have enzymes to prevent dental disease and RASKS which physically clean the surface of the tooth while being chewed. These are not a substitute to brushing, they only help. Always remember that chews can add significant calories to your pets meal - Rasks are at least 20 % of your dogs daily calorie requirement.
If you have any concerns about your pets teeth make an appointment with our nurses- the dental checks are free, the only thing you have to lose are your pet's teeth if you don't take action !