How to Prevent Pet Dental Disease

Pet Basics: Dental Care.  

Aside from regular dental checkups, the most important thing pet owners can do to help prevent dental disease is regularly brushing your pet’s teeth. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association says, "While pets don’t require brushing twice a day like people, every other day is the minimum to reap the benefits. “There have been studies that have proven brushing teeth less than every other day doesn’t make a difference, really,” said Dr. Huffman.

In addition to regular brushing, Dr. Huffman says pet owners can investigate other methods to prevent dental disease, like water additives, oral gels and dental diets.

How to brush your pet's teeth. 

Pets need to be slowly introduced to the process of brushing their teeth, “just like you’d introduce hygiene to your child, which can be challenging as well,” said Dr. Huffman. She recommends getting your pet to lick toothpaste off your finger. As they become comfortable with that, rub the paste on their gums. Again, when the animal accepts this, start introducing a toothbrush. “I don’t particularly like the toothbrushes that go on your finger. I find that they’re not as effective and it’s putting your finger in their mouths, which is a danger,” Dr. Huffman said. Instead, she recommends specialty dog and cat toothbrushes, or a human brush with soft bristles.

As with any training process, it’s important to reward your pet for good behaviour. “Some pets enjoy affection or rewards and praise, and other pets want the food reward,” she said. “There are ways to make them get used to it, and I think people, if they try, they can actually find their pet starts to like it.”

Dr. Huffman advocates for prevention, which includes regular dental checkups. Being proactive about dental health can help save your pet from unnecessary pain and more serious complications. “It’s a preventable disease, so I think we have to be more proactive in managing it,” she said. “I think there’s this acceptance of horrendous breath and horrendous teeth, like stalactites growing on their teeth ... as vets and pet owners, there’s an acceptance of that, and we shouldn’t accept that. It’s not fair to the animals, and it’s not fair to us to have to be bowled over by that breath.”"