Dental care for dogs and cats
Dental care is as important for your pet as it is for you! Maybe even more so, because well over 80 percent of pets over the age of 5 have some significant level of periodontal disease, which can lead to serious consequences – including heart disease. But the good news is, with regular home dental care, most problems can be avoided.
Frequently asked questions about pet dental products
- Are mouth rinses effective in pets?
- Can I use an electric toothbrush for my pet?
- Can I use a human toothbrush or do I need a pet toothbrush?
- Do rawhides, knotted ropes, or hard rubber toys benefit my pet’s teeth?
- What’s the benefit of a chew toy or rawhide?
- What’s the benefit of chlorhexidine in a dental chew?
- Are Greenies dangerous to feed my pet?
- What’s the benefit of zinc in an oral product?
- What’s the benefit of enzymes in an oral product?
- What’s hexametaphosphate (HMP)?
- Are teeth wipes effective dental care for pets?
Without brushing, mouth rinses are not very effective. With brushing, rinses such as C.E.T. Chlorhexadine Rinse are helpful.
Yes.
A small toothbrush that fits your pet’s mouth does the best job and is the most comfortable for your pet. Either choose a small human brush or use a small pet brush. Always use soft bristles. Try C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit For Dogs and Cats.
Rawhides, knotted ropes, and hard rubber toys can be of limited benefit by mechanically removing plaque. Watch so that your dog doesn’t tear off chunks that can block the intestines. Cow hooves, cooked bones and ice cubes can be harder than teeth, and your pet can break their teeth chewing them. For dental treats and chews for dogs, we recommend the following products: Greenies and C.E.T. VeggieDent Chews for Dogst. Feline Greenies Dental Chews are also available for cats.
A chew toy stimulates the flow of saliva, mechanically knocks material from the teeth. Flat rawhide does a better job of cleaning teeth than thick rawhide bones.
Chlorhexidine controls bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It inhibits plaque and works for up to 12 hours. Paradoxically, while inhibiting the rate of plaque formation, chlorhexidine increases the rate of calculus formation. Typically chlorhexidine is used as a rinse rather than in toothpaste because some of the ingredients routinely in toothpastes inactivate it. Some pets don’t like the taste of chlorhexidine.
Anyone with a dog that wolfs down food needs to be cautious with any dental treat. An undissolved lump of Greenies or anything else causes necrosis (cell death) as it compresses the tissues surrounding it. Usually necrosis occurs in the esophagus or small intestine. Without veterinary attention, this necrosis can be fatal. To prevent this, keep an eye on your pet to ensure he or she doesn’t swallow whole chunks.
We can begin by training our dogs when they’re young to eat slowly. Giving puppies large knuckle bones teaches them to gnaw and not wolf down large chunks.
Zinc benefits your pet’s mouth by:
- Stimulating cell growth
- Reducing plaque
- Reducing halitosis
Enzymes, such as glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase, kill bacteria that help form plaque. C.E.T. Toothpaste contains enzymes.
Hexametaphosphate interferes with plaque mineralization by binding the calcium in saliva so plaque cannot harden into calculus. HMP softens already formed plaque. HMP is used as a coating on treats.
Although teeth wipes are not as beneficial as brushing, they are certainly better than nothing at all. The main reason teeth wipes aren’t as effective is because they don’t get under the gum line where most bacteria hides.
