One of the most common diagnoses that veterinarians make daily is dental disease in dogs and cats. That’s why many veterinarians are stepping up efforts to educate pet owners on the importance of dental hygiene for their pets. “The guidelines for good pet dental care are very similar to those established for people by their dentist. It’s a year-round process that includes both professional care and routine home care,”Daily Dental Care Is Key During a visit to the veterinary clinic, when the subject of brushing is brought up, pet owners frequently ask, “So how many times a day should I brush his teeth?” According to Stephanie Arnold, MPH, DVM, Virbac Research & Development, one answer that gets people thinking is: “How many times a day do you brush your teeth?” “Of course, that gets a few laughs, but it’s not necessarily a joke. In reality, it’s sometimes not convenient to brush a pet’s teeth twice a day, so most veterinarians usually recommend weekly, if not daily brushing,” Arnold said. “The idea of brushing an animal’s teeth can be a little daunting, but it’s really quite easy. Especially now that there are products out there that can make the brushing experience more enjoyable for pets and their owners,” Arnold said. Best To Brush: The Basics • Start when a pet is young (or adult age after a thorough dental cleaning). Slowly introduce the pet to veterinary dental toothpastes and soft-bristled brushes. • Brushes should be the appropriate size and shape for a pet’s mouth. There are even brushes made for cats. If a pet owner doesn’t know what size to use, their veterinarian is the best source of advice. • Make sure the paste used is veterinarian recommended. Human products can actually cause more harm than good. • Toothpastes come in multiple flavors, usually beef, chicken, seafood or malt so they are tasty to your pet and help him look forward to brushing. • Start by letting a pet taste the toothpaste, then put the toothpaste on a finger or a washcloth and run it along the gum line. Finally, use toothpaste on the brush along the gum line. • Be sure to push the toothpaste into the bristles of the brush to keep the pet from just eating or licking it. The brush needs to be angled under the gums because this is where the bacteria that cause dental disease like to hide. • Using small circles, brush from the back to the front of the mouth. The outer surfaces of the teeth are where the most plaque and tartar build up, so reaching them is critical. Good To Chew, Better To Rinse If a pet loses patience before a complete brushing gets done, that’s okay. There are other products that can help clean the rest of the teeth, including water additives and dental chews. Make It A Routine The bottom line for home dental care is that frequent brushing (along with chews and water additives) not only helps protect a pet’s teeth, it can help to save him from painful dental disease. For more information about the complete range of C.E.T. Oral Hygiene products, or for a demonstration of proper tooth brushing techniques, pet owners are encouraged to contact their veterinarian or visit www.cetdental.com.
