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We are taught from a young age to brush our teeth
regularly to ward off gingivitis and other dental problems,
however, we often forget that these very same diseases affect our
pets too. For effective oral health for pets, it's important to
look at several facets of a pet's lifestyle.
Games
While various backyard sports are enjoyed by all the family,
there are some sports which can be just a little too rough for
your dog. For example, when playing cricket with a cricket ball,
there is the chance that your dog will try and catch the ball in
its mouth, this can easily result in broken teeth. Broken teeth
are not easily, nor cheaply, fixed as it may require a
specialist canine dentist to make and fit a 'false' tooth.
Nutrition
Although most commercially produced pet foods provide a
balanced diet, tinned foods, meat rolls and even raw meats like
mince, are very soft and mushy and can't act as an abrasive to
naturally clean teeth.
An
excellent addition to the pet food market was the introduction
of dry biscuits that are now a very common style of food for
most pets. As they are hard and crunchy, they rub against the
teeth whilst the pet is chewing. There are even some specific
pet food formulas that have been manufactured with this purpose
in mind.
Although feeding your pet dry biscuits certainly
helps, giving your pet bones to chew on regularly is not only
another effective solution, but a tasty one for your pet too!
 Accessories
Yes, you can buy a toothbrush for your pet! Most veterinary
clinics will stock a toothbrush which has been specially
designed to fit over your finger and has a small brush head,
perfect for using on your dog or cat. There are also toothpastes
available for pets. Human toothpaste cannot be used due to the
fact that it's too high in fluoride and our pets can't spit.
However, the hardest part of actually brushing your pet's teeth
is keeping them still! Most people find that unless you start
brushing your pet's teeth when they are young, it may be more
difficult to get them use to it as they get older.
Age
We have all heard the saying 'getting long in the tooth'
which simply indicates the aging problem. The majority of older
pets will have experienced or will be experiencing tooth and gum
problems, in fact, the state of advanced plaque on a pet's teeth
is often used as a reasonably accurate indicator of a pet's age.
Habits
The humble tennis ball is a common dog toy. However, vets
will agree that they can cause severe wearing down of the teeth
when chewed constantly. The fibre on a common tennis ball is
very abrasive and over time can wear a dog's teeth right back to
the gums.
Another way that this can occur is through excessive
self-grooming or when a pet is constantly biting and chewing its
own fur due to itchiness caused by skin conditions. Seeking
relief for the original skin condition will ensure that this
never happens.
Hints
The most obvious signs of teeth and gum disease are bad
breath and dribbling. What you smell is literally rotting
tissue. Not only is this very unpleasant for you and your pet,
but it can eventually be dangerous to your pet's health as
abscesses, blood poisoning and serious illness can result from
mouth infections.
Breeds
Some breeds of dog and cat are actually more susceptible to
dental problems than others. For example, dogs with short or
pushed-in faces such as the Pug, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Pekingese,
Shih Tzu, and Tibetan Spaniel; or cats such as Persians, may be
more prone to dental problems. The bone structure of their
skulls can sometimes mean that there isn't enough room for all
of their teeth or that their teeth will grow at incorrect angles
and may eventually cause gum damage. |
