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5 STEPS TO HEALTHY TEETH AT HOME
1. Diet - there are many premium diets formulated to improve dental health. Hills have specific dental diets (oral care and T/D), and Eukanuba incorporates dental defense into all its dry formulations. The way dental diets help can vary - some help with manual friction against the teeth, others use an enzyme to help breakdown developing plaque.
2. Raw meaty bones - bones are an excellent source of chewing, and the manual action helps remove plaque build up on the teeth. Raw meaty bones can be a substitute for a meal, especially if you have a fussy pet.
3. Chewing toys and treats - anything that stimulates your cat or dog to chew will help decrease dental disease. The range includes kongs, pigs ears, rawhide treats, and Greenies.
4. Brushing - special finger brushes with pet specific paste (flavoured beef or chicken... yum, yum!) are available for the dedicated. It can take a bit of persistance and time for your dog or cat to become used to the brushing, but even rubbing your fingers just inside their mouth can help.
5. Drinking additives - new to the market is Aquadent, which is basically an equivalant to pet mouthwash. Aquadent is diluted into the water, a very palatable way to help decrease tartar. It contains xylitol, which helps decrease tartar, and chlorhexidine, an anti-bacterial.
But dont forget, it is vital to have your pets teeth checked regularly - 6 monthly checks will aide in the fight against teeth and gum disease. These checks are designed to monitor the rate of tartar formation on teeth and whether any other problems are occuring, including but not limited to: exposed tooth roots, chips or cracks on the teeth, and various other problems which can occur. Plans can then be formulated to ensure that your cat or dog gets the best dental care available, and help them live a long and happy life.
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Bad breath is a sign of dental disease, so if your cat or dog's breath makes you gag this may be a cause for concern. Dental disease and mouth pain can affect a pet's quality of life, appetite, behaviour, sensory perception and general well being.
There are many causes of coughing in cats and they may be due to upper (larynx and trachea) or lower (lungs) respiratory problems. Feline asthma – also known as feline bronchial disease or allergic bronchitis – may affect at least 1% of all cats and is more common at this time of year.
