Preserve your pet's oral health with our specialized dental care.
Your pet's dental hygiene is much more than just a question of aesthetics and white teeth. By offering your pet the right preventive care, you'll be able to keep them longer and give them a better quality of life.
Plaque is first deposited on teeth and calcified by saliva to become tartar. Once present, tartar, made up of millions of bacteria, represents a real threat to your companion.
Bacteria in the mouth are responsible for bad breath. The tartar that accumulates on your cat or dog's teeth will infiltrate under the gums, causing infection and inflammation - gingivitis. If not treated in time, dental abscesses or parondontitis can occur. Dental abscesses, not always visible without an X-ray, can be a major source of pain and behavioural changes for your pet. Parondontitis will eventually cause instability of the affected tooth, which may ultimately fall out.
In addition to direct damage, some bacteria found in tartar are likely to enter the bloodstream and contaminate other organs. The heart, liver and kidneys are particularly at risk.
With large quantities of bacteria in the animal's mouth, there's also a high risk that some will be inhaled and end up in the respiratory tract, causing potentially serious lung infections.
Of course, the dangers of poor dental health and the risk of death do not appear overnight, but are a problem that evolves over the years.
Hill's t/d®, Royal Canin Dental Formula and Purina DH are three particularly effective diets that will significantly reduce tartar, especially when combined with regular brushing. These diets are also safe for preventing urinary problems, particularly common in cats and small-breed dogs. A wide variety of complementary products are also available to help prevent tartar build-up, such as mouthwashes and additives that can be added to water.
Recent studies have shown a link between oral health problems and general systemic health problems affecting the kidneys, heart and metabolic systems. The nutritionists and veterinarians at Hill's have developed a specially formulated clinical nutrition to keep your dog's teeth clean and help control oral bacteria in plaque.
– Unique kibble shape and size – Special fiber matrix technology – Complete, balanced nutrition
How does it help? – Cleans tooth surfaces – Fights bacteria-laden plaque – Promotes overall health – Recommended for lifetime feeding of adult dogs
* Only Hill's®; Dental foods (Prescription Diet®; t / d®; and Science Diet®; Oral Care) have received the VOHC seal for plaque and tartar control in canine and feline formulas. The VOHC seal is a registered trademark of the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
ROYAL CANIN DENTAL Nutrition and veterinary care formula is specially designed to provide triple-action dental care to help prevent plaque and tartar build-up, while meeting the precise nutritional and energy needs of adult dogs.
Clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar build-up to improve oral health.
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), glucosamine and chondroitin to reduce inflammation and contribute to joint health in large dogs.
Patented blend of synergistic antioxidants containing vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and taurine to support immune health.
– Kibbles with patented texture – High-quality food for daily feeding of adult dogs – Proven to significantly reduce tartar build-up – Excellent daily food for dental health – Complete, balanced formula for adult dogs
Brushing your four-legged friend's teeth is the best way to prevent tartar build-up. Good brushing can remove plaque before it hardens into tartar. Specialized pet toothpaste will reduce plaque calcification and fight bacteria found in the mouth. Unlike human toothpaste, pet toothpaste is safe if swallowed, and several flavors are available to make the process even more enjoyable! There are toothbrushes specially designed for dogs and cats. A child's toothbrush may also do the trick. We recommend brushing your pet's teeth every day. If you don't manage to do this regularly, remember that each brushing will still be beneficial.
Tooth brushing should be done in very gradual stages. It's advisable to do each step for a few days, until your pet is comfortable before moving on to the next. In some cases, one step may even last several weeks. Start by putting toothpaste on your finger and letting your dog or cat lick it off. Then repeat this step, but insert your finger (with the toothpaste) into its mouth using small circular movements. When it's easy, repeat the same steps, but using a toothbrush instead of your finger! Tooth brushing should take about 30 seconds. If you take longer, the experience may be less pleasant for your companion.
If tooth brushing isn't possible for you, or if you'd like to do more, some chew toys such as Kong's Dental Stick have been developed to deposit a quantity of toothpaste in the toy, combining the benefits of toothpaste and the toy's rubbing on your pet's teeth. Other chew toys and chew strips may also be of interest, but be careful with elk bones and antlers, which can be too hard and cause tooth fractures.
Despite all this good care, tartar will accumulate and scaling will eventually be recommended. Your veterinarian will use the same instruments as your dentist to perform scaling on your dog or cat, but a general anaesthetic is required to do the job properly. Your veterinarian will work with you to determine the ideal time for scaling, balancing the risks of anesthesia and tartar build-up. Your pet's general condition will also be taken into consideration when making this recommendation. Most pets would benefit from preventive scaling every 18-24 months to ensure optimal dental and oral health. This frequency may, of course, vary according to each pet's individual predisposition to tartar build-up, its general health and the level of prevention its owner provides at home.
Preventive scaling is obviously advisable before dental lesions are present. During scaling, each tooth is carefully examined. Dental X-rays will also help identify any problems not visible to the naked eye. If there is a problem, depending on its nature, treatment will be suggested. Although a wide range of treatments are available in veterinary medicine, extraction of the affected tooth is often the preferred solution.
In conclusion, dental hygiene is at the heart of our pets' health. Tartar, 80% bacteria, is a frequent source of infection. Ask your veterinarian for a personalized preventive approach tailored to you and your pet's needs.
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