Q: My vet has talked to me about something I find weird but intriguing: oral hygiene for dogs/cats. Do people "really" brush their pets' teeth? I can't imagine many pets would enjoy that. How does that work??

A: Yes, many people brush their pets’ teeth. Oral hygiene for pets is just as important as it is for their human counterparts. When you think about it, why not? Dogs and cats have teeth and gums too. Why wouldn’t they therefore also be prone to dental tartar, gingivitis and periodontal disease?

Gone are the days when vets used to wait until a dog or cat had rotten teeth, extract all the bad ones and then clean what was left. Thank goodness we now know there is a much better way. We now try to be proactive, so that advanced periodontal disease and extractions can be prevented. We realize how critical dental care is to an animal’s health and well-being. We have discovered that pets who receive frequent dentistry live an average of 3 years longer than those that do not.

If an animal has infected teeth and gums, it will hurt to chew its food. The pet may not show it has oral discomfort, but that does not mean it is not present. Animals have instinctively learned to hide signs of pain, for in the wild they would have been singled out as easy prey. They must continue to eat, or risk starvation. It might not be easy for their owners to know their teeth hurt.
"Maintaining your cat and dog's teeth is one of the most important things you can do to improve your pet's quality of life," says Joanne M. Bicknese, DVM, ELS, Global Veterinary Medical Director for Pharmacia Animal Health. "Too many people consider their companion's bad breath to be normal. It's NOT. Often it's the first sign of an oral health problem."
Sandra Dow is aware of the importance of regular dental care for pets. Her last dog lost most of its teeth to dental decay by age 5. At that time, like most pet owners, Sandra had no idea how quickly dental disease could progress, especially in a small breed. She then saw how much better Shanty felt after her diseased teeth were treated.

When Sandra and her husband Richard adopted Lucy, an adorable Yorkshire terrier, Sandra was determined to do whatever she could to ensure Lucy keeps all of her teeth. She brushes Lucy’s teeth once a day, and brings her for veterinary cleanings once a year.

How do you brush your pet’s teeth? Start by handling its muzzle and mouth, and give a small food reward. Then dip your finger in some tuna juice, or beef broth, or whatever your pet finds yummy, and rub a little on its gums. Do this a couple of times per day for several days. Next find a veterinary toothpaste that your pet loves, and brush one or two teeth. Slowly progress to a point where your dog/cat will let you brush all its teeth. You only need to do the outside surfaces, since dogs and cats do not get much plaque on the inner surfaces of their teeth. Make sure you give lots of praise. It should be fun. Make it a routine at the same time every day, so that like Lucy, your pet will “ask” to have its teeth brushed.

However, brushing your pets’ teeth does not replace the need for regular cleanings by your veterinarian. You and I brush and floss our teeth every day, yet we still need to have our teeth cleaned on a regular and repeated basis. The same goes for our pets.

Lucy Dow will be turning 6 this February. She still has all her teeth, and is well on her way to a lifetime of good oral health.

by: Louise Langlais-Burgess, D.V.M.
Hespeler Animal Hospital
210 Pinebush Road, Cambridge, ON
Tel.: (519) 740-7706