ANY  GUESSES??

The title is a bit misleading as there are quite a few things you can do at home that would make for a happier healthier pet.  So to be more accurate it would read: “The number 1 thing you probably aren’t doing but should to improve your pet’s health”.  If you’ve been to the vet office recently your veterinarian probably lifted up your pet’s lip and discussed dental health (and if they didn’t, ask them to!).  Many pets in my experience, in particular cats and small dogs have AWFUL teeth.  Some mouths on occasion have made me want to gag! This coming from a vet who loves lancing abscesses and doesn’t blink an eye in expressing anal glands.  The mouths and spaces around the teeth collect food particles which the bacteria will feast on, forming the plaque.  The minerals in the saliva bind with the plaque to form hard tartar/dental calculus.  This tartar eventually makes it way up the tooth separating the gingiva (gum) from the tooth itself exposing your pets blood to the bacteria being harboured in the plaque and tartar.  As the bacteria flows through your pets blood stream they sometimes will set up shop on the heart valves causing endocarditis (inflammation of the heart and its valves) Eg. NOT GOOD

SO WHAT DO YOU DO??

Brush your pet’s teeth, that’s right, get right in there and brush their teeth.  NO don’t give them bones to chew on (this can cause fractures and chips in teeth that may require surgical intervention) Dental food/ treats and dental/healthy mouth water additives aren’t enough alone but I do recommend them in combination with brushing!

1. Use veterinary tooth paste! Human tooth paste is harmful to pets! I use CET poultry flavored toothpaste for Ellie
2. Brush daily! can’t do that? brush at least 3 times a week, make it part of routine, for example just after their evening meal
3. GO slowly/ start early. Having your puppy or kitten exposed early to having their mouth handled and teeth brushed will makes things easier. If you are starting a bit later introduce brushing slowly:
   1. use your finger and run it along the sides of their teeth and gums, rewarding afterwards helps
   2. introduce them to a finger brush or soft bristled tooth brush
   3. introduce the tooth paste, Ellie loves it! Offer it on your finger first then put it on the brush.

A caveat, if your pet has advanced periodontal disease they may need to be professionally cleaned/scaled, the gingivitis and overall inflammation and health of the teeth makes brushing quite painful!