#BestForPets Magazine - Edition #2 (Winter 2022)

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#BestForPets

Dental health BUMPER FEATURE

Brushing their teeth can be an easy and fun procedure (in some pets). It’s easier to start at the puppy or kitten stage as they will get used to it very easily. You need a very soft bristled brush (like a child’s or baby’s toothbrush) and pet toothpaste, which is usually meat flavoured. Do not use human toothpaste as it can be harmful if swallowed and usually pets don’t like that minty freshness much.

Daily removal of plaque is the key to healthy teeth.

Unless your pet’s teeth are brushed daily, plaque and eventually tartar will build up at the gum line. Infection then occurs, which loosens and destroys the attachment of the tooth.

What you can do to help…

Early detection Early dental problems can often be picked up by your vet when you take your pet in for an annual booster and health check. It’s much easier to treat an early case of gingivitis by scaling and polishing the teeth rather than waiting until your pet has severe dental disease, resulting in a much longer anaesthetic to remove teeth. Dental diets Dental diets are available, specially formulated to act like a toothbrush to help prevent tartar build up. Dental diets aren’t as effective as regular brushing, but can help keep teeth clean if used as part of their daily diet If their teeth have severe gingivitis or a deeper infection it’s important that your pet has a dental as a matter of urgency. The infected gums provide a source of bacteria, which can get into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, these bacteria can deposit in major organs such as the kidney, liver and heart valves.

Many cat owners complain about their feline’s cat-o-strophically bad breath. Unfortunately, most cats don’t have their teeth cleaned so the most common cause of halitosis (bad breath) is caused by bad teeth. Regular dental care can definitely improve your cat’s general health and wellbeing. Dogs can develop dental problems at any age and many over six years of age have some degree of dental disease. The problems can range from mild gingivitis where the gums look red, to severe periodontitis where teeth are covered in brown tartar and there may even be tooth root abscesses. Although our pets do not demonstrate dental pain like we do, there’s no doubt that they do get toothache. Although it might not stop them from eating, they’ll feel very uncomfortable with that dull ache. It’s surprising how much brighter and livelier your pet may become after a dental.

Consider a dental diet. In pets that won’t allow tooth brushing, the next best thing is a dental diet that’ll help control plaque build-up. Your vet can recommend a food that you can feed your pet to help keep their teeth clean.

There are many dental chews and treats available and these do help, but be aware that on their own they are sometimes not enough to prevent dental disease.

We’re here to help you do the best for your pet’s dental health and protection

You could save money on your pet’s dental care by joining The Healthy Pet Club . Members of the adult cat and dog club are entitled to a dental, scale, polish and minor extractions for one fixed price. To find out more visit thehealthypetclub.co.uk today. Did you know that MiPet Cover’s LifetimeFlex and 365Flex pet insurance policies cover dental treatment as a result of an accident or illness? (as long as your pet is up to date with their yearly dental check-ups and where any work recommended is carried out at your own expense).

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