Like A Smile On A Dog: Taking Care Of Your Pet's Teeth by Charlotte Reed, Pet Expert

Pet expert Charlotte Reed gives advice on caring for your pet's teeth.

New York, NY February 16, 2004--Animals can suffer from the same dental problems that plague people. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of three.

Food particles, bacteria and debris can build up and harden on teeth and gums to form plaque. As bacteria grows inside the plaque and as calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tartar. If left unattended, plaque and tartar build-up can result in gingivitis (an inflammation of the gums) and, worse, periodontal disease that can lead to infection and tooth loss. Severe infection can enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting the heart, live, and kidneys.

Pet owners should make dental care a part of your animals regular grooming routine. Regular brushing and teeth cleaning are important to your pet's health regime.

1. Its never too late to begin brushing your pets teeth daily.
- Brush your pets teeth after evening meals.
- Use a pet toothbrush or finger to brush with pet dental paste or teeth cleaning pads to cleanse, soothe and deodorize your animals mouth. Dont worry! Pets can lick and swallow the animal paste without harm. Never use human paste or baking soda to brush your pet's teeth because ingredients in these products can be harmful to your pet.
- Clean the front, back and top teeth surfaces.
- Slowly, lift up or pull down your pets lip and gently brush along the teeth and gumline.
- Throughout the process, speak to your pet in a calming voice, offering praise.
- When youre done, reward your animal with some playtime.

2. Gradually develop an oral hygiene program by lengthening dental care sessions and scheduling them several times every week.

3. Daily, add a few drops of pet oral hygiene solution into your pet's drinking water. It will deter bad breath and combat bacteria growth. You can also use tabs and sprays that are designed to help keep breath sweet, both by cleaning teeth and working in the digestive system.

4. Feeding your pet hard or coarse textured food and treats may help prevent accumulation of plaque, tartar and calcium. Ask your veterinarian for advice regarding the best diet for your pet.

5. While feeding your pet hard, dry kibble and treats is helpful, you can also give him or her pet toys that have raised bumps or grooves to help to clean teeth and massage gums. Many knotted rope toys floss baking soda and fluoride toothpaste into teeth and gums to help fight plaque and tartar.

6. If your animal has severe tooth discoloration; red, inflamed or bleeding gums; bad breath or excessive drooling; a change in his eating or chewing habits; and/or is pawing at his face, call your veterinarian to schedule a dental examination at the earliest possible date.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Dental Society and Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc., have teamed up to educate pet owners about the importance of regular dental care for their pets during National Pet Dental Health Month. As part of Februarys National Pet Dental Health Month campaign, visit www.petdental.com and learn about proper oral health care.

Did You Know...
- Broken teeth are a common problem, especially among outdoor dogs. According to veterinary dental experts, aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as commercially available cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth in dogs.
- Symptoms of periodontal disease in cats include yellow and brown tartar buildup along the gum line, red inflamed gums, and persistent bad breath.
- Cats can develop painful cervical line lesions. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one of these painful lesions during their lifetime.
*Courtesy of Pet Dental.com

For more information regarding animal oral care, contact:
American Veterinary Medical Association
Attention: Membership Division
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360
847-925-8070, www.avma.org

American Veterinary Dental Society
200 4th Avenue North, Suite 900
Nashville, TN 37219
1-800-332-AVDS, www.avds-online.org

About Charlotte Reed:
Charlotte Reed is the owner of a New York-based complete pet care service, Two Dogs & A Goat. She writes columns for American Magazine, Fido Friendly and The Resident. She has shared her expertise with millions of people through her Pet-Owning Made Easy series of booklets and her appearances on CNN, Good Day New York, Fox Pet News and other TV shows. She is currently writing two books on pet-related topics, focusing on pet etiquette and bonding with your pet. For more information, visit www.charlottereed.com or call 212-213-6979.