Importance of oral hygiene for our loving pets.
According to Sky Dental and other Clinics, Good oral hygiene is just as important in dogs and cats as it is in humans, but is often underestimated. Although dogs and cats have other problems (for example, they rarely suffer from ‘cavities’), dental problems are common. According to Phoenix Dentist, Dental problems cause pain in our pets that is rarely noticed. It is often only after the animal has been treated that the owner realizes how miserable his pet has been with toothaches!
As an owner, you can help prevent this.
Owners sometimes come to a consultation with the complaint that their dog has bad breath. In almost all cases, this is due to food particles that get stuck between the teeth, plaque, bacteria and tartar.
How does tartar form?
Tartar is caused by the calcification of dental plaque. Plaque is a thin layer on the teeth that consists of saliva, food particles, live and dead bacteria. When plaque sticks to the teeth, it calcifies into tartar. Tartar then builds up and can form large lumps.
What are the consequences:
If tartar is not removed, the gums will also be affected after a while. The gums then become red and painful and begin to recede. Yet the animals continue to eat because the instinct to survive is greater than the pain.
Meanwhile, bacteria get a chance to climb up and settle between the tooth and jawbone. This loosens the teeth, causing even more pain.
An overview of the consequences of poor oral hygiene for your dog / cat:
- development of tartar
- bad breath
- red and swollen gums
- receding gums
- loose and rotting teeth
- drooling profusely
- pain
- don’t want to eat anymore.
Inflammation in the mouth can also spread to other parts of the body (heart, kidneys, liver), quickly making the situation more serious.
Can I Prevent My Dog From Getting Tartar?
Some breeds are more prone to developing tartar than others. Especially the smaller breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle suffer from dental problems very early.
But even within the same breed we often see individual differences. This is because the formation of plaque and tartar is influenced, among other things, by the acidity of the saliva, and this is slightly different for each individual.
Age also plays a role: the older your animal, the greater the chance that he or she will develop tartar. That is why the dental check-up is an important part of the check-up of your senior pet.
However, there are a number of things you can pay attention to to prevent the formation of tartar:
Nutrition
An important factor in the development of tartar is feeding wet food. Animals that are fed wet food are much more likely to suffer from teeth problems.
Every Pet Shop has a line of dog and cat food that gives extra care to the teeth ; The chunk structure has been modified in such a way that the chunk only breaks when the entire tooth passes through the chunk (unlike other chunks that break at the first force). This way the teeth are cleaned much more thoroughly. With this, you can check if your pets oral health and hygiene is good and nothing to worry about. Plus, the dogs and cats love them too!
Chewing, a natural form of brushing your teeth
Wildlife is not so prone to tartar. This is because they chew the bones of their prey, which cleans their teeth. Therefore, give your dog something hard to chew on a regular basis, but be careful. Bones (eg chicken legs) can shatter causing sharp pieces to puncture the dog’s throat, stomach or intestines. Therefore give adapted chewing bones. In my practice you will find the Orozyme chewing strips and chewing bones. These strips do not shatter and are therefore completely safe. In addition, as the dog chews on them, they release enzymes that prevent the formation of tartar.
Brushing teeth
Not all dogs like to chew, and some dogs may need a helping hand by brushing their teeth. Never use human toothpaste for this, because it contains too much fluorine for your dog or cat. There are special toothpastes on the market to clean your pet’s teeth, such as the Orozyme chicken flavor toothpaste, which is usually well tolerated.
You can use an adapted toothbrush or a finger brush. Sometimes it takes a while to find out what works best for your animal.
Additional measures
Is brushing your teeth not successful or does your dog really not want to chew on chewing strips or chewing bones? Then Orozyme has another solution for you: the Bucco-fresh powder is a powder that you sprinkle over your animal’s food, and that also contains the necessary enzymes to prevent tartar. In addition to this, there is a liquid that you must add to the drinking water and which has the same effect.
Check regularly
We always check your dog’s teeth during the annual check-up of your animal. During the year you can also check your dog’s teeth yourself. If you suddenly notice bad-smelling breath or your dog starts drooling a lot, it’s not a bad idea to pop in and have your animal’s teeth checked.
In case of excessive tartar, I recommend that you have your teeth cleaned ultrasonically. This technique removes the tartar.