Cat's and dog's overall health is connected to the way we hoomans take care of their dental health. The mouth as the entry point for all the systems of our pet’s body is prone to bacteria build-up, in a sense, the mouth is the dirtiest part of the body. This is because adult cats and dogs, including puppies and kittens, have a large number of bacteria living in their mouths and it houses the highest number of species of bacteria in any part of the body.
Generally speaking, there is a complex community of bacteria in the mouth, and saliva and food residues provide a constant source of nutrients for them.
“The oral cavity of cats and dogs can be a haven for bacteria. It provides a good source of nutrition, suitable temperature, humidity, and air , and the fact that some dogs and cats have poor oral hygiene makes the bacteria build up even worse.”
A daily habit of cleaning the mouth and teeth of our pets can be a way to prevent future dental diseases which may affect the health of our pets. Be an informed hooman and learn the basics of dental and oral health care for cats and dogs.
Common Diseases of Oral Cavity in Pets
Dental Plaque
The naked eye can see the dental plaque in cats and dogs. They are soft whitish or yellowish film consisting of bacteria that naturally forms on the surface of the teeth of your pets after meals.
“Plaque can be easily removed by brushing and flossing daily.”
Dental Calculus or Tartar
When plaques build up, it hardens and forms tartar or dental calculus. It develops below and above the gum line. It is rough and porous in texture and is one of the many causes of gum diseases in cats and dogs.
“Tartar itself is not harmful, but it protects the bacteria from being removed.”
Gingivitis
As oral bacteria continue to increase in the mouth of your cats and dogs, it causes inflammatory disease in the gums, which is known as Gingivitis. The bacteria damages the cells in the area of the mouth causing tenderness, redness, and swelling, it also tends to bleed when probed.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis in cats and dogs arises from the deterioration of Gingivitis. As the inflammation expands, the periodontal membrane (the fleshy tissue between the tooth and tooth pocket) is destroyed and the alveolar bone (the thick ridge of bone which contains the tooth sockets) gradually dissolves, causing the gingival sulcus (the natural gap between the tooth's surface and the surrounding gum) to form periodontal pockets.
Cat's and dog’s periodontal pockets are prone to infection-causing bacteria. Periodontal pockets may destroy periodontal tissues causing gum diseases and serious oral infection.
“There will be loosening and shifting of the teeth, as well as aggravating bad breath. Some dogs and cats may even refuse to eat because of the pain.”
Bad Breath in cats and dogs
Bad breath is produced directly by anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are present in the mouths of animals and normally help break down certain foods to aid digestion, but when they combine with certain proteins made up of amino acids of sulphide, they create the distinctive rotten egg smell of hydrogen sulphide.
Anaerobic bacteria secrete sulphur compound gases such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulphide, which have a taste equivalent to the fishy smell of cabbage and rotten eggs that have gone bad, as well as methyl mercaptan and faecal odours that can appear in faeces.
“Anaerobic bacteria live mainly in the spaces of the taste buds and in the throat or on the tonsils. They prefer environments with low oxygen content and filled with debris, such as plaque, calculus, mucus and infections in the mouth, causing nasty bad breath in cats and dogs.”
Ear and respiratory infections can also cause anaerobic bacteria to grow, which is why severe halitosis or oral health problems that caused bad breath is accompanied by ear infections.
Daily dental and oral care for cats and dogs
1. Regular dental check-ups
The veterinarian will carefully examine the dog and cat's mouth and choose the appropriate treatment, if appropriate, as well as recommend a comprehensive dental and oral care plan.
2. Scaling of teeth
“Scaling is mainly to wash away the calculus from the gums and periodontal pockets so that the gums and teeth can fit closely together.”
It also helps stop the calculus from attacking the gums. Cats and dogs teeth that are found to be severely loose during the scaling are extracted. As most of cats and dogs being scaled are elderly, a general examination is required before anaesthesia; scaling is best carried out in a good condition with no swelling and bleeding of gums and recovery from anaesthesia is observed.
As general anaesthesia is required for dental scaling, it is best to minimize the number of anaesthetic scaling sessions, so that post-scaling care is particularly important; and as some senior dogs and cats are limited by their physical condition and are often unable to perform scaling, Veterinary Dentist needs to provide long-term dental care to prevent oral problems from affecting the general health of cats and dogs.
3. Brush your cat's and dog’s teeth
Regular brushing should be done from the age of 6 months onwards and is advised to be done2-3 times a week. At first, your pet will be uncomfortable, but doing it consistently will develop into a healthy habit.
“Dental care for puppies and kittens can be started by taking a strip of gauze dipped in a little saline and wrapping it around the index finger and gently wiping the gums and gaps of your pet's teeth.”
When your puppies and kittens are fully adapted, then brush their teeth with a special toothbrush to get the ideal care effect for the long run.
Reduce plaque and tartar that harbours bacteria in your dogs with daily brushing of NYLABONE Dog Toothbrush Combo. It's preventative dental care kit comes with a dog finger brush, angled neck toothbrush, and a 2.5 ounce of peanut-flavoured toothpaste with Denta-C that is proven to reduce plaque and control tartar build-up in puppies and dogs.
NYLABONE Cat Toothbrush Combo provides easy oral care, leaving your cat with fresh breath and healthy teeth and gums. It contains a cat finger brush, a toothpaste made with Denta-C, which is scientifically proven to reduce plaque that harbours bacteria, and a toothbrush with ultra-soft nylon tips and a rubber massager to clean between teeth.
4. Use of water additive and mouthwash
Mouthwash can improve the pH level in the mouth of dogs and cats. It helps remove bad breath, freshen breath, inhibit tartar production, reduce bacterial damage and improve oral problems. Finding the right mouthwash for cats and dog is very essential.
Formulated by veterinary dentists to promote teeth and gum health, VIRBAC Aquadent Fresh Dental Solution 250ml is a dental health drinking water additive for cats and dogs. The FR3SH™ technology is specifically formulated with natural ingredients to target the oral and digestive causes of bad breath.
No brushing! CATURE Mouthwash 350ml promotes dental care in cata and dogs by killing germs and bacteria that may cause gum diseases. It's 100% safe and palatable to consume, simply add it to your pet's drinking water to help control plaque formation.
5. Toys for cleaning the mouth
Teething bones, cowries and dental toys all use abrasion to reduce the accumulation of tartar and plaque, and although they have limited effect, they are the least likely to cause refusal in cats and dogs (if your pet has a habit of swallowing, avoid giving teething bones or cowries that can be swallowed in one gulp, as they may get stuck in the esophagus).
Cleaning Bone Treats: GREENIES Original Value Pack Teenie Dog Dental Treats 1kg is the #1 vet-recommended dog dental chew. It has a bone-like shape with a special flavor for dogs to chew on. The bumpy texture on the surface helps to clean your dog's teeth. As the dog chews, the bumps rub against the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth and the gaps between the teeth, removing tartar and food debris.
Hard Dog Chew Toys: Dog dental chew toys promotes dental health by playing! FOFOS Medium Flexy Bone Dog Chew Toy is a hard dental chew toy that helps massage the gums and gently cleanse the teeth from plaque and tartar buildup. It also helps keep your pet mentally and physically stimulated!
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Rope Ball Toy: Dogs and cats chew on ropes, which come in many shapes and sizes, but in general are made of a thumb-thick stiff rope with a loose thread at one or both ends, which slips into the teeth as they gnaw and then acts as dental floss when the thread is pulled out.
The furry rope ball like BECO Small Hemp Ball Dog Toy Rope, which dogs and cats love, cleans your pet's teeth. Each tiny knot of rope removes tartar on teeth as they tear and bite.
Watch Your Pet’s Diet: Cat's and dog’s diets should be complete and balanced. The food they eat should be formulated to suit their lifestyle and life stages.
“A balanced diet will ensure that your cat and dog is well nourished, especially by providing the necessary calcium and phosphorus for dental health.”
If you are feeding canned food to your pets, you should increase the fibre in their diet. Be careful about feeding bones to your cat and dog as they can damage their teeth, causing cracks and pain. Do not overfeed with sweets, such as sugar, as they may develop tooth decay. Adding Vetnex Health Supplement Products
No brushing is required to keep your furry friend's smile looking its best! A sprinkle of CATURE Seaweed Plaque-Stop Pet Oral Care Health helps keep your pet's oral health in check. It contains a unique blend of seaweed and persimmon extract that helps fight plaque and tartar.
to your pet's daily routine is a must!
“Sticking to a proper dental hygiene to keep cat and dog's health at an optimum state is manageable!”
No to dirty mouth in cats and dogs! Always keep your pet's mouth clean by regular brushing, adding dental treats and chew toys for extra fun dental and oral health care, balancing diet and adding vitamins and minerals to keep your dog free from dental and oral problems!
