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Stay on top of your dog’s dental health

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Dental Health

As a proud dog owner, it’s important to prioritise your dog’s dental health or risk having to deal with gum disease or tooth decay, which can lead to bad breath, bleeding gums and tooth loss.

Be aware of bad breath. Do not ignore the harsh, musky scent coming from your dog’s mouth. This could be a warning that your furry friend might have a periodontal (gum) disease or stomatitis, which is the inflammation of soft tissue in the mouth.

Pedigree recommends five steps on how to maintain your dog’s dental health.

  1. Brush your dog’s teeth – It might seem hard to do and requires patience, but the rewards are worth it. You can turn tooth brushing into a bonding session with your furry friend. Slowly try to work your way to brushing each side of the mouth for a few seconds. Do not use human toothpaste, as it is not safe for pets. Rather consult your veterinarian for a viable alternative.
  2. Diet – If brushing your dog’s teeth ends in blood, sweat and tears, there are alternative options to maintaining and improving your dog’s oral health. Crunchy kibbles are better for your dog’s teeth than soft food. The firmer food is less likely to stick to the teeth and cause decay.
  3. Dental treats – Did you know that four out of five dogs over the age of three have gum disease caused by plaque and tartar build up around the gums? Pedigree Dentastix are clinically proven to improve oral health by reducing plaque and tartar build-up. With the unique X shape, texture and special ingredients, when fed daily, Dentastix can reduce tartare build up by up to 80%. Keep your pooch’s teeth and gums clean, strong and healthy with a yummy Dentastix daily.
  4. Veterinarian check-ups – Humans are not the only ones who need to have their teeth checked by a professional. Your dog needs regular check-ups too. Even if they have healthy teeth, your dogs should have their teeth checked by a professional every six to twelve months. Request a dental exam from your veterinarian find out if your pooch has any existing or potential dental concerns. Your dog will be anaesthetised while undergoing dental work or teeth cleaning.\
  5. Encourage your dog to chew a lot – Avoid chews that have hard and solid surfaces such as cow hooves and antlers, because they can cause cracked teeth. Opt for safer objects such as chew toys as they are designed to strengthen your dogs’ gums and teeth without causing damage.

Source: Pedigree

Vanquish the Hostile Takeover of Canine Halitosis

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Vanquish the Hostile Takeover of Canine Halitosis

Image: Pixabay

Getting up-close-and-personal is your furry friend’s way of showing their unconditional love and affection for you and the last thing you want is to shy away from them just because they have a disagreeable breath. You may think it insignificant, but halitosis could be the culprit for this unpleasant odour and should be investigated promptly.

Causes

Halitosis is the condition of accumulated odour-producing bacteria in the mouth which results in bad breath.

Periodontal disease (gum or dental disease) is most notably responsible for our canine companion’s bad breath and this occurs most frequently in smaller dogs who are particularly susceptible to plaque and tartar.

Breath that remains unrelentingly offensive could be an indication of something more serious than just a need for a professional dental clean. Halitosis can be a red flag for problems associated with severe medical issues in the mouth, liver, kidneys, respiratory system, inflammation of the throat, tonsillitis, gastrointestinal tract or even metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Cancer or foreign matter in the body can also play a role in producing bad breath as they result in disease.

Bacterial, fungal and viral infections within the body can be responsible for emitting foul odours, as can dietary-related problems. Consider that when your hungry hound eats foods that have naturally offensive odours, their breath will automatically smell bad. Some pooches display behaviour known as coprophagia, where they eat faeces and will, similarly, have the same foul-smelling breath thereof.

Trauma associated with an electric cord injury may also be a possible cause of halitosis.

Symptoms

  • If there is no indication of critical issues, the offensive smell may be the solitary symptom of halitosis.
  • If a disease in the mouth is the cause, the following symptoms could appear:
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Severely reduced appetite
  • Losing teeth
  • Drooling excessively which could have traces of blood therein
  • A peculiar sweet and fruity-smelling breath, could be a potential warning for diabetes, especially if your pup is consuming water and urinating more than usual.
  • An ammonia-like or urine-smelling breath could be indicative of kidney disease.
  • Liver problems could be the trigger when the following symptoms are displayed:
    • Foul smelling breath
    • Vomiting
    • Severely reduced appetite
    • Yellow-shaded corneas or gums

Treatment

Treatment will vary according to what’s causing the halitosis. If halitosis is brought about by periodontal disease, a dental cleaning procedure is likely to be scheduled as your pup may lose some teeth if the procedure is delayed. A professional dental clean involves scaling your dog’s teeth to eliminate any plaque or tartar accumulation along with polishing those pearly whites. Teeth appearing to have above 50 percent chance of losing the supporting gum and bone may have to be extracted. Your furry pal will undergo general anaesthesia during the clean so ensure they fast the night before and chat to your vet about any concerns you may have with regards to having them endure anaesthesia. Your veterinarian may thereafter, prescribe medication that regulates the bacteria production in the mouth, enabling a reduction in the associated odour.

If your pooch’s halitosis is triggered by something other than periodontal disease, physical examinations will have to be conducted by your veterinarian to establish whether the root cause could be attributable to a condition such as diabetes, liver, digestive or kidney problems. The subsequent treatment plan will then depend on the identified cause thereof.

Don’t hesitate to visit your veterinarian as soon as you discover any suspicious symptoms relating to halitosis so to discount any chance of them developing into critical health issues down the line. 

Prevention

Why allow your furry pal to endure the unpleasantries or dangers of halitosis when you can take the initiative in preventing it in the first place?

  • Schedule regular veterinarian checkups to be made aware of or prevent any imminent medical issues that could be triggering halitosis.
  • Ensure that both you and your vet actively monitor the condition of your dog’s teeth and breath.
  • Ensure your pup is well nourished with a high-quality diet that is easily digestible.
  • Feed your pooch specially formulated treats that reduce bad breath and tartar.
  • Brush your fur ball’s pearly whites weekly, if not daily. Use a vet-recommended toothpaste especially formulated for dogs because cat or human toothpastes can cause upset stomachs in canines.
  • Allow your dog’s teeth to be cleaned naturally, by giving them safe and tough chew toys to gnaw on.
  • There is a plethora of oral products on the market so chat to your veterinarian about the most appropriate ones for your special canine companion.

Interesting Fact
Dog breeds with flat-faced, short-nosed characteristics, also known as brachycephalic breeds, such as Boston Terriers, Pugs, Pekingese, are more inclined to periodontal diseases and conditions associated with the mouth since their little teeth are set so closely together

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

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Disclaimer: The information produced by Infurmation is provided for general and educational purposes only and does not constitute any legal, medical or other professional advice on any subject matter. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always seek the advice of your vet or other qualified health care provider prior to starting any new diet or treatment and with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you suspect that your pet has a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.

How And Why Do Cats Clean Themselves? A Guide To Grooming, Licking, Biting, And Self-Bathing

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How And Why Do Cats Clean Themselves? A Guide To Grooming, Licking, Biting, And Self-Bathing

Image: Pixabay

Can cats clean themselves? Why is your kitty constantly licking itself? Why do felines bite their fur?

When it comes to hygiene, feline furballs of all breeds and ages can be seen licking, biting, and grooming themselves on daily basis.

The act of cleaning is not only a hygiene practice, but also a bonding experience for cats when they clean each other.

Mothers lick their kittens in order to clean them as well as to provide a sense of comfort. Cats that are close to their owners might lick their pet parents. Many felines living under the same roof will lick each other, thus expressing affection.

But how do cats clean themselves? The cleaning process features the tongue, front paws, and teeth. Their barbed and bristled tongues are suited for catching any dirt, debris, and fallen hair. They also wet their paws with saliva and use them as a washcloth substitute.

Moreover, they use their teeth when cleaning themselves. Their incisor teeth come in handy for nibbling through tangled hair and through foreign particles stuck to their fur.

So, that’s the basic how, why and what of cat cleaning themselves. They do groom themselves a variety of ways, they can groom each other, and oh, they’ll probably make sure to do it in front of you because, well, they’re cats.

But what about things we have to help them with?

What Can’t Cats Clean?

Don’t get us wrong. Out of all popular domesticated animals, including dogs, cats are most definitely the cleanest. However, there are certain things which they simply can’t deal with, no matter how determined.

Hairballs

As your cat is trying to untangle its matted fur, it’s also shedding it. Furthermore, it’s also swallowing hairballs, which lead to vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, and other problems.

On top of that, the cat hair falling from your pet’s body isn’t 100% clean just because your cat has licked it. It’s still carrying allergen agents, dust, oils, and debris.

Make sure to brush or use a deshedding tool regularly on your kitty to help make sure she doesn’t suffer from hairballs.

Parasites

No matter how thoroughly your furball is nibbling through its fur, it can never fully get rid of ticks, fleas, and other parasites.

As clean as cats are, they can easily contract worms and other internal parasites. Your furry pal’s inborn instincts for hygiene won’t tell it that it’s not supposed to wander around a dirty spot, sniff infected feces, or eat an infected rodent.

Dental Problems

Cats can’t brush their teeth. They will eat grass when they want to induce vomiting in order to clean their stomach. However, they won’t do anything to clean their pearly whites, since the natural eating process usually helps keep them clean. If you’ve got an inside cat that doesn’t eat dry food, consider getting some dental chews or feed dry food once in awhile to help clean the teeth.

Getting rid of tartar build-up, bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and food leftovers aren’t your furball’s priority. And even if you’re the proud owner of an overall healthy breed, your pet is still prone to suffering from dental problems.

They Can’t Thoroughly Clean Their Fur

Regardless of the effort your precious pet is putting into licking itself, it can never fully clean its fur. Grooming the cat manually is a must for every single pet parent out there. It doesn’t matter if you own a long or shorthaired cat.

Some breeds will need weekly brushing, whereas others will need it on a daily basis.

Moreover, all cat breeds require bathing. It’s a well-known fact that most felines out there aren’t big fans of the water and they act aggressively during bath time, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t bathe your pet. Not all cats hate water. Some simply dislike it, while others get petrified in the bathtub. Of course, some even enjoy it, such as the Turkish Van cat.

Regardless of your feline furball’s breed, age, and fur coat, you should groom it manually. Don’t rely on its own self-cleaning techniques, otherwise you’ll compromise its physical health.

Source: Catological

How To Know When It’s More Than Just Your Dog’s Bad Breath

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Image: Pixabay

It’s unlikely that your dog’s breath will ever smell like a bunch of roses, but if it carries a stench that makes you want to pass out, something may be amiss.

“So many dog owners forget to check the condition of their pet’s teeth. Bad breath is often ‘brushed over’, when in fact, if left untreated, can lead to the deterioration of your dog’s health and standard of life,” said Ashleigh Sanderson, senior brand manager at Dog Portfolio.

Smelly breath can be a sign that your pooch suffers from gum disease and cavities. However, persistent bad breath can also indicate larger medical problems in the mouth, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, or internal organs, according to Pets WebMD

“Your dog uses his teeth for much more than just eating. He uses them where we would use our hands – to hold, carry and play,” said Sanderson, and this is why it’s important for a pet owner to get to the bottom of what’s causing the odour.

When to see the vet:

  • Breath that smells like urine can be a sign of kidney disease.
  • An unusually foul odour accompanied by vomiting, lack of appetite, and yellow-tinged corneas or gums could signal a liver problem.
  • Unusually sweet or fruity breath could indicate diabetes, particularly if your dog has been drinking and urinating more frequently than usual.

Some other underlying clues include red, inflamed or bleeding gums, a receding gum line and tooth root exposure, loose teeth, tartar build up and in severe cases, a change in eating behaviour – such as preferring softer foods or chewing more on one side of the mouth.

You can take an active role in your pet’s dental care by:

1. Brushing your pet’s teeth. It is recommended that all pets be trained early on to accept simple tooth brushing as part of their daily (at the very least, weekly) routine.

2. Regular dental cleanings by your vet. Your vet will carefully clean every tooth surface and remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach recesses below the gums and between teeth.

3. Ask for other dental care routines outside of brushing your dog’s teeth. For example, daily oral swishes and rinses, chew treats containing anti-plaque ingredients, and specialised teeth-cleaning diets.

Source: Huffington Post

WHISKAS® scoops coolest pet food award, and we are paw-sitively ecstatic!

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MYTH BUSTED: YOUR DOG’S BAD BREATH ISN’T ACTUALLY NORMAL

Why their oral health is as important as yours

While your pooch’s breath may never smell like a bunch of roses, if it carries a pong that makes you want to pass out, something’s amiss and your dog could actually have gum disease. Sadly, your canine can’t tell you if something is wrong, so it’s up to you as a pet owner to get to the bottom of what’s causing the odour.

Research shows that 4 out of 5 of dogs over the age of three years have gum disease, caused by plaque and tartar build-up around the gum line. The good news is this stat can be reduced by an effective dental care routine.

“So many dog owners forget to check the condition of their pet’s teeth. Bad breath is often ‘brushed over’, when in fact, if left untreated, can lead to the deterioration of your dog’s health and standard of life. That is where PEDIGREE® DentaStix™ comes to the rescue – it’s a cleverly formulated daily chew to help you keep your dog’s teeth clean and reduces plaque build-up,” says Ashleigh Sanderson, Senior Brand Manager, Dog Portfolio.

But how can dog owners tell if their dog has gum disease, besides checking for bad breath?

Some other underlying clues include red, inflamed or bleeding gums, a receding gum line and tooth root exposure, loose teeth, calculus (tartar) build up and in severe cases, a change in eating behaviour – such as preferring softer foods, or chewing more on one side of the mouth.

PEDIGREE® DentaStix™ is recommended by vets and can be introduced as a morning or evening cleaning routine that you have with your dog. So, when you brush your teeth, they can chomp on PEDIGREE® DentaStix™ – what could be easier?

The chew has a unique X-shape and a mildly abrasive texture, with active ingredients, that when fed to your dog daily, is scientifically proven to reduce the build-up of plaque at the gum line, where it matters most. What’s more, they are low in fat, free of artificial colour and sugar and contain real meat flavour for added deliciousness.

Other tips to keep your dog’s teeth healthy include:

  • Making sure your dog has an oral health examination at your vet at least once a year
  • Training your dog, ideally as a puppy, to get him/her used to having teeth brushed, using a canine-specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
  • Making sure to provide chews, toys and treats that are safe – many people don’t realise that bones, stones, sticks and tennis balls can damage a dogs teeth or gums

“Your dog uses his teeth for much more than just eating. He uses them where we would use our hands – to hold, carry and play. From licking to leaning in, dogs have a special way of giving affection to their owners, and now you can now say goodbye to smelly breath and unhealthy teeth and gums and enjoy your pet at its best,” says Sanderson.

PEDIGREE® DentaStix™ are available in most retailers and are made for small, medium and large breed dogs. They are scientifically proven to help reduce tartar build-up by up to 80%. This chewy treat is not suitable for young puppies under 4 months.

Source: WHISKAS®