Want Better Oral Hygiene in Pets? Here are 5 Ways to Do It

Remember the day when your poor Fido came to you while you were enjoying your favorite sitcom and you smell a stinky smell of compressed air passing through you. At first you might be in disbelief, but then you realize that it is your little furry friend who is suffering from bad breath. This is caused when your Fido has eaten something foul and smelly or there are bacteria in the mouth of Fido. In either of the cases it shows that you have neglected the oral hygiene of your furry friend.

Remember that oral hygiene is the most important thing for a pet. Both cats and dogs suffer from oral hygiene issues. It can lead to painful jaws, lost teeth and significant pain. It can even cause kidney or heart disease in pets. Hence, you need to be extra careful while looking after the dental health of your pet. Let us look at the different ways to improve oral hygiene in pets:

• The best way to eradicate this problem is by cultivating the habit of regular brushing the pet’s teeth. Always use toothpaste that is recommended for dogs and cats since the toothpaste we human beings use is harmful to our furry friends.
• If your pet does not like brushing the teeth there are alternatives available like treat or chews that assist in cleaning the teeth and gums of your pet. But remember a chew that is intended for small breeds should not be given to large breed pets and vice versa.
• Dental toys can be a good option as they ensure that the oral hygiene of the pet is maintained while the pet plays and chews the toy. Remember to always purchase a toy that is appropriate according to the breed of your dog. A large sized toy may choke a small sized pet, so exceptional care need to be taken while selecting the toy for the pets.
• You can even give dry dental food to the pets since it contains dry kibble that assists in slowing down the progress of dental disease by scraping the food against the teeth when your pet eats.
• You can even give an oral rinse to the pet. One such product is Orovet Oral Rinse for Dogs & Cats. It can keep your pet’s dental health perfect. If your pet does not allow you to brush their teeth this is the perfect substitute. It can even be used when your pet does not like dental food or chews.

If your pet is already suffering from dental disease, then the veterinarian will conduct an oral examination by inserting local anesthesia in the teeth of the pet and thoroughly examine their teeth and mouth. Once that is over the veterinarian will utilize ultrasonic scaler to clean the pet’s teeth on top of and beneath the gumline and then shine the pet’s teeth.

It is very critical for the veterinarian to clean below the gumline as it is the vicinity where the disease commences. This process cannot be done while your pet is still awake. The veterinarian will then scale the teeth of the pet and provide you the diagnosis that will aid in treating the oral disease.

There are times when veterinarians carry out radiographs (X-rays) of the pet’s teeth and mouth to get an idea of the extent of the dental disease. Your veterinarian can even assist you in selecting the best diet, toys, chews and other products that will ensure that your pet’s oral health gets better in due course of time.