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How does your pet's mouth look?
How to teach your pet to love having their teeth brushed
What's in your cat's mouth?
Home dental care tips:
- Choose a pet-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Do not use human toothpaste for your pet. The fluoride and sudsing agents are not meant to be swallowed.
- Pet-friendly toothpastes come in a variety of flavors, including poultry and seafood. If you've never brushed your pet's teeth before, start by using the toothbrush without any toothpaste. This will allow your pet to become acclimated to having the brush in his mouth, then you can introduce the flavored toothpaste.
- Try to brush your pet's teeth at least once daily, as the plaque that forms on your pet's teeth will harden and become dental calculus within 24 hours.
- Monitor your pet's mouth for signs of dental disease (red, swollen or bleeding gums, bad breath or halitosis, dental calculus, loss of teeth, difficulty chewing or dropping food, decreased appetite).
- Remember the knee cap rule: If you would not want to hit yourself on the knee with your pet's toy, it is too hard for them to chew. This includes hard nylabones, deer antlers, ice, bones, and hard rawhides. These objects can fracture your pet's teeth, leading to pain and possible infection of the teeth. Acceptable chew toys include Kongs, rubber nylabones, or pressed rawhides.
How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth
If you are concerned your pet may be showing signs of dental disease, click here to learn about our dentistry services and call our office to schedule an exam.
The Pet Care Library is intended to provide pet owners with information regarding pet care and diseases. This library and its contents should be used in conjunction with a veterinarian's advice, not as a replacement. Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.
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