How many of you think about your pets teeth? How many brush their pet’s teeth regularly? Dental disease is extremely common and can be prevented easily.

Some breeds are more prone to problematic teeth than others because of the shape of their mouths and overcrowded teeth.

The best advice is to feed a good quality dry diet with fresh water available. Dry kibbles clean teeth and help to prevent plaque build up. Plaque is a sticky surface on the teeth which comes from bacteria and left over food particles. This plaque continues to build up over time leading to chunks of tartar, inflamed/bleeding gums and eventually loss of teeth. Cats and dogs cope with bad teeth well so the problem is not always apparent.

Bad breath (halitosis) is usually the first sign that there is a problem. It is wise to get puppies and kittens used to having their mouths checked and their teeth brushed daily with paste and brushes from your vet. Human paste is the wrong pH and can damage the teeth. There are poultry and malt flavoured paste available which will encourage your pets as teeth cleaning will be enjoyable for them.

So next time you brush your teeth think of your cat or dogs teeth as well.

Here are some pictures of a cat having a dental under general anaesthesia.

The teeth are cleaned with an ultra-sonic cleaner and then the surface polished so that it is smooth to prevent plaque build up afterwards. Any rotten teeth will be extracted. The endo-tracheal tube in the cat’s mouth supplies oxygen and an anaesthetic agent to keep her asleep. It also prevents water/debris from going into her lungs.

Most animals recover quickly from a dental but any anaesthetic carries a risk. It is much better to prevent your pet needing dentals by caring for their teeth.

Some pets will not allow brushing – there is a paste called Logic which can just be smeared around the mouth which will help or you can buy toys/treats which help to clean the teeth by encouraging chewing. There are always solutions to such problems.

Thank you to Anne for supplying the photos in this article.