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Tips on Brushing Your Feline Friend’s Teeth

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  • Brushing a cat’s teeth is a challenging task to say the least, so starting earlier than later in their lives is advantageous to you both
  • Cat’s generally don’t enjoy having their mouths touched so first get them accustomed to it by lifting their lips and exposing their teeth daily
  • Ease your cat into their favourite resting place whilst you brush their teeth. This could be on a particular piece of furniture or even on your lap
  • Use a specially designed cat toothbrush with soft bristles. A child’s toothbrush will also do. Alternatively, you could use a finger toothbrush or a cotton swab
  • Never use human toothpaste, baking soda or salt to brush your cat’s teeth. Use toothpaste especially designed for cats. They come in feline-friendly flavours to make the experience more palatable for your feline friend
  • Give your cat a tiny taste of the toothpaste a few days prior to the initial tooth-brushing session
  • Raise your cat’s lip to reveal their gums and teeth
  • Gently brush in movements like you would a child or your own teeth
  • Most cats won’t permit you near their inside teeth so focus on brushing the outer surfaces of the gums and teeth
  • The canines and back upper molars are prone to tartar accumulation so don’t overlook these in a brushing ​session
  • Once your cat is familiar with the brushing process, aim to maintain a daily brushing routine
  • Reward you cat for his patience and cooperation with a dental friendly, tartar-reducing treat after the brushing session


Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

Essential Tips to Care for Your Pet’s Teeth

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Let’s face it: No matter how much you adore your pup or kitty, her breath can be downright gross at times. But that may mean that she needs more than a good brushing — bad breathcan be a sign that your pet is suffering from gum disease (also known as periodontal disease), which can lead to serious health concerns, ranging from tooth loss to organ damage.

With a majority of adult pets suffering from some degree of periodontal disease, maintaining your pet’s oral hygiene isn’t a luxury — it’s a vital piece of her healthcare routine. Here’s how to keep your pet’s mouth cleaner so you can keep your cat or dog healthier from tooth to tail.

1. Visit Your Veterinarian for Teeth Cleaning

Dental care for dogs and cats should start at your veterinarian’s office. Pets need to be regularly evaluated for the presence of dental tartar and disease and be treated if necessary. The fact is, about 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over the age of 3 suffer from significant oral disease that requires treatment. Such treatment might include a tooth or multiple teeth being pulled to stop infection and prevent additional health problems.

But your pet’s teeth don’t need to get to this point. When she visits the veterinarian for her annual or six-month examination, the doctor will check her teeth. He or she will be on the lookout for reddened gums, yellow-brown tartar and other signs of dental disease. The doctor also may recommend that your pet gets dental X-rays to check whether there are hidden signs of disease below the gum line and in the bones. Performing a full dental exam and taking X-rays require sedation, but it’s well worth it for the vital information these procedures reveal about your pet’s dental health. If there is any evidence of dental disease, the veterinarian will likely recommend a dental cleaning for your pet.

Just like in human medicine, a thorough dental cleaning involves cleaning your pet’s teeth with a scaler and checking the gums for periodontal “pockets” (areas where the gums have pulled away from the teeth). But unlike people, cats and dogs don’t lay still for their dentist. Therefore, dental cleanings are performed while pets are under general anesthesia. Today’s pet anesthesia is extremely safe and, most often, the health threats of avoiding dental cleanings far outweigh the threat of anesthesia complications.

On average, dogs and cats benefit from dental cleaning once a year starting at the age of 3, but every pet needs his or her own individual dental program. Some cats and dogs might need less frequent cleanings, others more. Your veterinarian will work with you to decide what’s best for your pet.

2. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth Every Day 

Another important component to staving off dental disease is at-home care. While it’s critical to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for getting your pet’s teeth cleaned in the clinic, the best thing you can do to at home to promote good oral hygiene is to brush your pet’s teeth — daily. Doing it every few days or once a week isn’t enough, because the bacteria that cause dental disease can recolonize on the tooth surface in a period of 24 to 36 hours. Daily brushing may sound daunting, but it’s completely doable, even on finicky cats.

Start with the basic tools: a soft-bristled toothbrush (ideally, one specifically for pets) or a finger brush and toothpaste. Be sure to use toothpaste specially formulated for pets, since toothpaste for people is designed to be spit out and can be harmfulto cats and dogs when swallowed.

Next, place a small amount of toothpaste on your finger and let your pet sniff and lick it. If there’s positive interest in the flavor of the toothpaste, use it. If your pet isn’t interested in the toothpaste, it’s OK to brush her teeth without it (several flavors are available, so you can always try a different one next time). Hold the toothbrush at a 45º angle to the tooth surface with the bristles pointing toward the gums. Work the toothbrush in a circular motion, concentrating on the outside surfaces of the teeth — and don’t forget the cheek teeth in the back. Go slowly, aiming to spend a total of 30 seconds on each side of the mouth.

And be patient. If you haven’t brushed your pet’s teeth before, you may need to start by simply getting your cat or dog used to having her mouth touched. Then you can gradually work up to longer brushing sessions. While most pets eventually can be acclimated to enjoying (or at least not resisting) having their teeth brushed, some pets are more resistant than others.

3. Feed Your Pet a Special Dental Diet if Recommended

There are several commercial diets that have been shown to improve your pet’s periodontal health compared to regular dry food diets. These dental foods work by using a specialized kibble to provide better mechanical cleansing of the teeth. Ask your veterinarian if a special dental diet is right for your pet.

4. Offer Appropriate Chew Treats 

Some treats are designed to help keep your cat’s or dog’s teeth cleaner. Look for products that carry the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal. This seal signifies products that meet pre-set standards of effectiveness when it comes to controlling plaque and tartar in dogs and cats. While products that lack the VOHC seal certainly may work, you can be confident that products that have earned the seal are truly effective. It’s also helpful to know which treats you should probably avoid. For example, treatslike cow hooves, pig’s ears and real bones can damage your pet’s teeth or cause other serious problems if ingested. Also, as much as your pooch may love playing catch with a tennis ball, the yellow/green spheres are notorious for causing mechanical wearing of the tooth surface. If possible, offer your dog nonabrasive balls or toys. Not sure which toys are safe? Check with your vet.

Keeping your pet’s teeth cleaner requires a commitment on your part. Your veterinary healthcare team will do its part by performing regular oral examinations and recommending dental cleanings as needed. As for you, about one minute of tooth brushing a day and the right food and treats will help keep your pet’s pearly whites a shining example of health — so the rest of her body will be, too.

Signs of Dental Disease

Keeping a watchful eye on your pet’s teeth will help you catch problems early. The following are the most common signs of oral disease:

  • Yellow-brown tartar
  • Bleeding gums
  • Red, inflamed gums
  • Bad breath
  • Difficulty chewing/dropping food when trying to eat
  • Excessive drooling
  • Change in eating habits
  • Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face against the floor or furniture 

Source: Vet Street

The Relationship Between Fleas and Tape Worms

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Not only are fleas a menace, but they also play a notorious role in enabling the life cycle of a specific type of tapeworm, known as Dipylidium caninum.

The Flea’s Role in Hosting Tapeworms

The fully matured tapeworm attaches itself to a cat or dog’s intestinal walls using hook-like suckers and teeth. From there, it feeds and develops. An adult tapeworm is segmented into a head, a neck and numerous tail segments. Each segment is approximately the size of a rice grain. Even though the individual segments are small, an adult tapeworm can reach up to approximately 15 centimetres long! One by one, the segments are released and passed through the digestive tract. As the segments dry, they split open and release the eggs inside.

Flea larvae encounter tapeworm eggs via infected bedding or carpets and they subsequently ingest the tapeworm eggs. Adult fleas don’t play a role in this part of the tapeworm life cycle. The contaminated flea larvae then develop into adult fleas. As they mature, so do the tapeworm eggs. At this point, a dog or cat may ingest an adult flea when grooming themselves or gnawing at the skin in response to a flea bite. The tapeworm is then released when the flea is digested in the cat or dog’s intestine. The tapeworm hatches, attaches itself to the intestinal lining of its host and matures into an adult tapeworm.

The good news is that tapeworms cannot be transmitted directly from dog to dog or cat to cat. For the tapeworm to reach full maturity, it must live part of its lifecycle within the flea. The egg must mature before it’s able to contaminate a mammal.

Symptoms of Tapeworm

Segments of the growing tapeworm may break off into the dog’s intestines and what may resemble cream-coloured sesame seeds may be visible in their stool or in the fur of the underside of their tails. On occasion, a dog may rub their buttocks along the ground to relieve the irritation. This is also known as scooting but can also be attributed to compressed anal sacs.

Symptoms in puppies, however, are more serious as tapeworm infestations can cause growth deficiencies, anemia as well as intestinal obstructions.

Treatment:

An infected pet must be treated with medication intended to eradicate tapeworms. Treatment can be administered orally, topically or it can be injected. The adult worms are then killed but do not escape in the stool. Instead, they are absorbed by the pet’s body.

However, the presence of tapeworm indicates a prior or present flea infestation and your pet stands a good chance of facing further tapeworm infections if the flea concern isn’t addressed accordingly.  

The tapeworm is unable to exist without its intermediate host, the flea. This notion concludes that if a dog or cat has tapeworm, there is no doubt that they ingested the contaminated flea. If they ingested a flea, this indicates the presence of fleas in their environment, regardless of whether the owner has seen the pests or not. Treating tapeworm is fairly easy but preventing it is easier by keeping fleas at bay and away from your furry loved ones and their immediate environment.

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

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 physician or other qualified health 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.

Do you know how complex pet teeth extractions are?

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complex

Do you know how complex pet teeth extractions are?

  • Contains the new Fr3shTM technology that contains erythritol for a cool and fresh breath, pomegranate that is a natural antibacterial agent and inulin to ensure a healthy gut.
  • VeggieDent dental chews contain no artificial ingredients and are wheat gluten free.
  • The chew is made from a plant-based protein and can be used in dogs with food allergies.
  • The Z-shape ensures mechanical action and the size ensures that the dog chews it for longer. The longer the dog chews on the dental treat, the more effective it will be in preventing plaque and dental calculi build-up.
  • Is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, trusted by dental experts around the world

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Source: Virbac

Dental Care For Dogs and Cats

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Dental

Dental Care For Dogs and Cats

Powerful bite – tips for keeping your pet’s teeth clean and healthy

Just like humans, dogs and cats must have healthy teeth and gums to counteract secondary diseases. Basic care for our pets includes regular teeth brushing at home and professional cleaning at the vet’s to prevent painful dental disease, gum problems and tooth loss.

The right toothpaste

The essential equipment for correct dental care for dogs and cats includes animal-friendly toothpaste and a toothbrush suitable for animals. Toothpaste intended for human use can be fatal to animals, but pet toothpastes and toothbrushes are available from all pet supply stores. The toothbrushes have softer bristles and are tailored to the size of dogs and cats. Alternative “finger rubber attachments” are also recommended.

Getting your pet used to brushing

To get the animal used to brushing its teeth, it is advisable to first massage the lips, teeth and gums of your pet. The pet’s lips are massaged with the fingers in slow, circular motions for up to a minute once or twice a day. Next, teeth and gums follow with the same movement. Over time, the animal will get used to the movements and the touch.

Once the pet has become accustomed to this, the pet toothpaste can be introduced. Dogs and cats are allowed to try some of the toothpaste first to get used to the taste.

Brushing of teeth

It is advisable to apply a small amount of the usually tasty toothpaste to the toothbrush and let the dog or cat lick the toothbrush. With this, the animal associates the toothbrush with something positive. As soon as he or she gets used to the toothpaste and brush, the actual brushing can begin. The procedure is largely the same for dogs and cats. Teeth are brushed in small circular motions, starting on the outside of the dentition.

Initially, you should take a break every five to ten seconds. Once the animal has gotten used to the dental care, cleaning can be done in one sitting. A guideline is 30 seconds to 1 minute. Kind, calming words spoken during the process makes it easier for the animal to be treated.

Alternatives to teeth brushing

If your dog or cat does not tolerate brushing their teeth, despite your best efforts, they should not be forced into it. Pet owners can fall back on alternatives, which include chewing sticks and dental care gel.

Annual check

The teeth of your pet are also checked during the annual recommended general examination at the veterinarian. If the vet finds tartar or inflammation, professional teeth cleaning should be carried out. This is definitely recommended!

Source: FOUR PAWS South Africa 

Easy Home Remedies To Get Tartar Off Dog’s Teeth

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Teeth

Easy Home Remedies To Get Tartar Off Dog’s Teeth

Taking care of your dog’s health and grooming needs is vital if you want a healthy pet. To that end, here are our 6 easy home remedies to get tartar off dog’s teeth. Some of them can sound troublesome and annoying but dental hygiene is as important for dogs as it is for people.

In fact, it can be viewed as even more important because dogs tend to stay quiet about oral pain and ignore it for as long as possible. This, in turn, can lead to some pretty unfortunate health problems down the line, not to mention a lot of toothaches.

Home Remedies To Get Tartar Off Dog’s Teeth

Figuring out how to get plaque off dog teeth is something a lot of dog owners don’t realize they are going to have to do before they get their dog. The very idea of brushing a dog’s teeth can seem even laughable to a lot of dog owners.

After all, dogs don’t get their teeth brushed in the wild, right? Indeed they don’t but they also don’t live as long as they otherwise could. Additionally, when you keep your dog on a mostly soft food diet (which does have many benefits) you remove the main way for how to get plaque off dog teeth – chewing bones. So, you’ll need to find another way to do that. Here are our 6 suggestions:

  1. Introduce some dry kibble into your dog’s diet. While soft food is usually better for nutrition, kibble’s benefit for dental health shouldn’t be ignored. That’s why most experts recommend a combination of both dry and soft food in your dog’s diet.
  2. Give your dog more (healthy) treats. Treats are awesome for training so many owners skip them when they decide that they don’t want to train their dogs. The added benefit of treats, however, is that they are often dry too and help with dental hygiene.
  3. Add powder supplements to your dog’s soft food. There are many food powder supplements for soft dog food that can work quite well.
  4. Get a few good chewable toys. This is a must both for dental hygiene and for keeping your dog happy, active, and entertained in general.
  5. Brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week. This can sound complicated but we’ll explain it in detail below.
  6. Consider introducing bones to your dog’s diet. This point is a bit controversial so we’ll explore it in more detail below as well.

Why Is It Crucial to find The Right Home Remedies To Get Tartar Off A Dog’s Teeth?

Ignoring your dog’s dental hygiene can lead to many of the same problems as the ones that can happen to us. The most common ones include:

  • Bad breath
  • Cavities
  • Gum disease or Periodontitis
  • Gingivitis
  • Loss of teeth

How To Train Your Dog To Tolerate Getting Its Teeth Brushed?

Brushing your dog’s teeth is actually much easier than it sounds. All it takes is knowing the right approach and having a bit of patience. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

  1. Get your dog “introduced” to the toothpaste and the toothbrush. Don’t try to use them yet – just show the dog the brush, let it sniff it, put some paste on your finger, let the dog lick, and so on. You can do this several times in the span of a few days to get the dog used to these items.
  2. Train your dog to tolerate you rubbing its teeth with your fingers. Obviously, wash your hands first, and only rub your dog’s teeth for a few seconds at first. After rubbing, give your dog a treat. Rub only individual teeth at first and slowly increase the number of teeth and the duration of the exercise.
  3. When you can rub your dog’s teeth for up to a minute with your pet protesting, get some gauze and start rubbing your dog’s teeth with that.
  4. Once the dog is used to the smell of the paste, the feel of its teeth getting rubbed, and is familiar with what a toothbrush is, start actually brushing your dog’s teeth.

Are Bones A Good Way To Help With Dog Tartar Removal?

We are mentioning this tip separately as it is a bit controversial. The problem with bones is that they can sometimes get stick in your dog’s throat or, even worse – in its stomach and intestines. Puncture wounds are also quite possible and dangerous.

At the same time, there are ways to avoid this and bones are indeed one of the best home remedies to get tartar off a dog’s teeth. What’s key about bones is that they must never ever be cooked.

Cooked bones are much more likely to splinter and hurt your dog. Raw bones, on the other hand, are much more edible. The types of raw bones most experts recommend include chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef bones. As long as they are not cooked and they are not too small and sharp (nor unmanageably big), your dog should be alright.

Still, even with raw bones a lot of experts warn that the risk is just not worth it. While accidents are less likely, a dog can still choke even on a suitably sized and soft raw bone. So, observing your dog closely while and after eating bones is definitely recommended. And, given the fact that there are so many other great home remedies to get tartar off a dog’s teeth, it’s not a bad idea to skip bones altogether.

Can A Groomer Or A Vet Help With The Plaque and Tartar Buildup On Your Dog’s Teeth?

Indeed they can. Most vets and all dog groomers will happily take care of your dog’s dental hygiene. At the end of the day, that’s a big part of a dog’s health. However, considering that plaque will keep building up constantly, it’s wise to organize a few home remedies for tartar – you can keep going to the vet for a toothbrushing every week, after all.

Source: DINISA