When was the last time you brushed your teeth (hopefully, today)? Okay, when was the last time you brushed your pet’s teeth (maybe... never)? Just like humans, our pets need good oral hygiene to tackle and prevent the buildup of smelly, sticky plaque on their teeth, avoid painful gum disease, tooth loss and stinky breath.
But did you know that just like humans, good oral health in pets can also help prevent more serious issues like heart, kidney and liver disease, diabetes and organ damage?
It’s easy to forget about your BFF’s (Best Furry Friend) oral health, which is probably why nearly 80% of dogs and most cats over the age of three have gum disease(Opens a new window). But these tips from our veterinary experts will give you and your pet something to smile about.
Help your pet get used to you handling their mouth
If your pet is still a young one, great! Starting good oral hygiene from an early age is the way to go, ideally, as soon as they get their adult teeth.
- Regardless of your pet’s age, you both need to feel comfortable to make this work, so take it slowly. Start by helping your pet get used to the weirdness of your hands near their mouth. Don’t worry if you can’t get a good look on the first try — some pets need days, or even weeks, to get used to this new idea.
- For more details, here’s a helpful step-by-step guide(Opens a new window) on how to brush dog and cat teeth – and when to call the veterinarian. Remember: never use human toothpaste, which can be toxic for pets. You can simply use water or ask your veterinary team which pet-safe, fluoride-free toothpastes to try.
Learn your pet’s personal risk of developing gum disease
- First, check your pet’s gums – they should be pale pink. Red means inflammation, a sign of disease. Smelly breath also indicates dental disease. And his teeth should be off-white with minimal build-up of plaque (a pale yellow gummy substance made up of bacteria, food and saliva). Plaque can also build up unseen under the gum line, which is why pets need regular oral health exams.
- You can also look to recent research to learn your pet’s risk of oral health problems. Thanks to our researchers at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute(Opens a new window), we now know dogs are more prone to gum disease than cavities.(Opens a new window) And because cats are also prone to gum disease, our scientists have investigated which types of bacteria(Opens a new window) are linked to it. This fundamental research has important implications for the future development of feline oral health products.
- Our researchers at Waltham and BANFIELD™ Pet Hospital(Opens a new window) conducted the largest study of its kind(Opens a new window), which analyzed more than 3 million dog medical records from BANFIELD across 60 popular dog breeds in the U.S. Among their valuable insights: Small breeds are more likely to develop this condition than larger ones.
- Use our breed risk checker(Opens a new window) to find your dog’s likelihood of developing dental disease.
Give them a good chew
While dental chews and dry kibble don’t replace brushing, they can be good support for your pet’s oral health by reducing plaque and calculus(Opens a new window) (the hardened form of plaque).
- This study(Opens a new window) found that daily feeding of Pedigree ® DentaStix(Opens a new window)™ reduces the incidence of bacteria associated with gum disease.
- A new study conducted by our Waltham scientists found that dental chews can help reduce dogs’ bad breath (malodour)(Opens a new window), which is a sign of dental issues.
- In a study of more than 17,000 dogs and 6,000(Opens a new window) cats visiting more than 700 veterinary clinics in Poland, our researchers found that including at least some dry food in the diet has significant benefits for oral health compared with home-prepared alternatives. Benefits were also seen when daily toothbrushing or dental chews were introduced. The survey also found that the probability of oral health problems was significantly higher when the cats and dogs were fed home-prepared foods.
A good oral health routine will help keep your pet’s teeth healthy
Dental disease in pets develops gradually and may be reversed if caught and treated early on. But preventing it is better than any treatment. A healthy mouth = a healthy pet.
