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As
dental hygeine in dogs and cats is as important as in humans, it is
highly recommended you bring your pets in for a tooth check. This will
give the vet the opportunity to check your pets teeth and gums, and
answer any questions you might have about teeth cleaning and oral
hygeine.
Dental disease is very common in cats and dogs, to avoid
any potential problems, bring your pet in to allow the vet to recommend
any appropriate treatment.
Rabbits, guiinea pogs and chinchillas need to chew for
log periods everyday to allow their continuously growing cheek teeth to
be worn down and prevent spurs forming. These make feeding painful by
cutting into their cheeks and tongue. When a rabbit eats grass or hay,
it chews in a sideways movement, wearing the teeth surfaces down evenly.
GUIDE TO
PREVENTATIVE CARE AFTER SCALING/POLISHING
After your pet’s teeth have been cleaned and
polished, preventative care is important to reduce build-up of bacteria
and plaque and hopefully avoid, or at least reduce, the need for future
de-scaling.
‘PREVENTATIVE CARE’ takes the form of the
following:
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Toothbrushing
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Diet
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Chews
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Oral Hygiene Gels
TOOTHBRUSHING: Just as for your own
teeth, daily brushing is the most effective way to reduce
bacteria/plaque build-up, but even cleaning thoroughly once a week will
make a difference. Never use human preparations for pets - our
toothpaste is not designed to be swallowed and contains frothing agents
that make it unsuitable for pets. Pet toothpaste is flavoured for pet
palates and does not need to be rinsed, so your pet may well come to
enjoy his/her tooth brushing sessions.
Pet toothbrushes are softer and shaped to fit your
pet’s mouth comfortably.
Beginning brushing with a young puppy/kitten is best but
it is never to late to start. Choose a time when you can enjoy a few
minutes of relaxed contact with your pet and progress slowly.
DAY 1 – Gently stroke the outside of your pets cheek with your
finger only and lift his/her lip for about 30 seconds. PRAISE AND
REWARD WITH A TREAT AT THE END OF EACH SESSION.
DAY 2 – Repeat the above then place a small amount
of pet toothpaste on your finger and let him/her sample it.
DAY 3 – Repeat Day 2 then run your finger plus
some toothpaste over your pet’s teeth for a few seconds.
DAY 4 – Repeat Day 3 and this time use a finger
brush for a few seconds. Progress slowly over the next few days, be
gentle and patient, introduce a proper toothbrush at this stage. The
back teeth and areas just below the gum are usually the worst effected
by plaque so try pay special attention here.
DIET: Feeding a dry
complete diet is an easy way of reducing plaque, due to the abrasive
action the dry pellets have on the teeth. Tinned meat, on the other
hand, just sits in the gaps between teeth and is a haven for bacteria,
which results in plaque formation. Feeding sweet foods will also
increase the build-up of bacteria.
CHEWS: Many dental chews are now
available, some of which contain plaque-fighting enzymes, and abrasive
action as they are chewed helps clean teeth. The same abrasive action
from chewing rawhide type chews and toys designed to be chewed will
help. Bones are not so suitable as they can break teeth or splinter and
damage your pet’s gut.
ORAL HYGIENE GELS: These adhere to
teeth and gums, allowing enzymes in the gel to break down existing
plaque-to some extent-and control bacteria responsible for plaque
formation. The gel should be daily by putting directly into the mouth,
putting into food or applied to paws to be licked off. It is ideal for
pet’s that refuse to allow tooth brushing.
Finally, regular dental checks at the surgery will
detect problems early. You should have an appointment with the nurse or
vet to check your pet’s mouth approx. one week after a dental and
you will receive an invitation for a free dental check in 6 months
time.Telephone the surgery if you have any problems/queries in the
meantime.
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