Oral health is extremely important in pets but is often ignored. We don’t pay attention to pet oral health or dental health till the situation gets out of hand. As with some other diseases “prevention is better than cure” holds true for oral health and hygiene of dogs and cats too!
February is “Pet Dental Month'' and is a great opportunity to learn more about dental care for pets.
Same as in human beings, a pet's mouth, gums and teeth accumulate deposits of food items. If left unclean they decay and cause infection. The resultant is bad odour from mouth and dental problems. Often the problem turns so bad that the pet is unable to chew its food because of tooth decay. Hence it is required to clean the oral cavity regularly to prevent the stated problems.
It is not a difficult task to take care of pet oral hygiene and the pet parent can take care of it on its own. A little time and care is required to prevent pets from these problems.
There are various ways to keep pet oral cavity hygienic.
a. Offer hard food to pets rather than soft diets so that their teeth are cleaned during chewing. Also pets exercise their gums and teeth in the process of chewing.
b. Give bigger bites so that the dog chews the food rather than swallowing.
c. Give fruits and vegetables in hard form to chew eg. Carrot, hard papaya, apple etc.
d. Biscuits, chews and bones can be used for physical cleansing. Although their excess use can cause other health problems.
e. Nowadays dry dog foods are available that have enzymes for teeth cleaning. Also the scientifically designed kibbles size ensures physical cleansing.
f. Teeth and gum cleansers are now available in the Indian market that can be used very effectively. Water additives for dental cleaning, Dental sprays, Dental foams, Dental wipes, Dental gels and toothpaste are available.
g. Toys are very effective for dental cleaning and teething. They can be used by pets at will and are harmless until ingested or swallowed. Right toys should be selected for your pet.We need to ensure that the pet dental hygiene measures should be started at an early age so that the pet gets accustomed to this process. If started in a later stage of life then the dog will not allow the parent to clean the teeth. He can become aggressive and bite the parent or handler.
Regularly, preferably everyday. It’s like cleaning our teeth and gums twice a day. Any convenient method can be used like dental foam and wipes or spray, gels, paste etc. Physical cleansing methods like hard food items and toys should be offered regularly.
What diseases can be prevented in pets by taking care of their oral hygiene?
a. Bad breath – Although not a disease but the sign of dental diseases. It becomes unbearable for the parent as pets always remain in close proximity to the family.
b. Dental plaques – Yellow deposits on teeth that can ultimately lead to infections.
c. Dental tartar – Hard deposits on tooth base
d. Gingivitis – Gum diseases with swelling, pain and infection
e. Tooth decay- Decay and fall of teeth
All these dental problems result in pets inability to chew, infection of the oral cavity, malodour, pain and discomfort. Do I need professional care for dental hygiene for my pet?
If not taken care of, dental health can worsen to become dental problems (pyorrhoea, gingivitis, tooth decay etc.) in pets. This is when you require professional advice and visit a veterinarian. Mouth wash, antiseptics, antibiotics, dental scaling are advised to control the problem by a professional vet. Needless to say that once a problem has been established it is impossible to reverse oral health to normal. Regular care and dental cleaning will help the pet live a longer and healthier life.