More than half of families in the UK own a pet. That’s 8.5 million families and 58 million pets!
This month is National Pet Month and the aim is to ‘make people aware of the mutual benefits of living with pets’ and ‘promote responsible pet ownership’.
We may be a dentist for humans, but in the spirit of this month, we thought we would provide advice on how to keep your pet’s oral health in tip-top condition. Brush your pet’s teeth daily.
Cats and dogs need to maintain strong and healthy teeth and gums; by not brushing daily, plaque will start to form in the mouth, affecting their teeth and even their breath! No one needs to smell their pet’s bad breath! Use a specially designed toothbrush and toothpaste that can be found in pet stores for your furry friend.
You can also buy special dental oral liquid that you can add to their drinking water if they’re not a fan of having their teeth brushed. Provide your pet with chew toys, bones and crunchy treats. These are designed to strengthen your pet’s gums and teeth by getting the saliva flowing, and the chewing of these crunchy items will naturally clean and scrape away any food and soft plaque stuck in their teeth.
But don’t take our word for it! Make sure to visit your local vet every 6 – 12 months to check up on your pet’s oral health and to ask for advice on how you can help keep their teeth in check.