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"Oral disease is the most common health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats. The reason is simply that many pet owners don't know how to care for their pet's teeth," according to Dr Guy Fyvie, spokesperson for national Hill's Pet Dental Month, an annual campaign in August.

Bad breath first problem sign
"Bad doggy breath is often the first sign of a problem," says Dr Fyvie. "Keeping your pet's teeth clean might sound like a joke but proper dental care can literally save its life," he adds.

Oral disease is preventable, yet left untreated it leads to tooth decay, bleeding gums, mouth pain and eventually, tooth loss. The bacteria that cause these problems can also eventually cause organ failure. Proper dental care can literally make a life or death difference to your pet's well-being, according to Dr Fyvie.

"The cause of dental disease is the same for humans as it is for pets - a build up of plaque and tartar. Brushing is an option, but not an easy one. A more convenient approach is to feed them food that will clean their teeth as they eat."

A 2003 Dutch in-home feline study, conducted by the Hills Science and Technology Centre, has shown that Hill's Prescription Diet Feline t/d, with its patented design kibble (available locally at vets) is more effective in controlling gingivitis than tooth brushing and is clinically proven to reduce both plaque and tartar. Vets find that these scientifically designed oral care diets are effective because pets are fed daily and many owners find it inconvenient to brush their pet's teeth as regularly. "The squeegee effect of the kibble scrubs the animal's teeth like a toothbrush." Says Dr Fyvie.

Other signs of oral disease
In addition to bad breath, other signs which indicate that your pet has oral disease include red and swollen gums, a yellow-brown crust of tartar around the gum line, pain in the mouth, a loss of appetite, lethargy and even depression. If any of these signs are present, owners should take their pets to the vet for a dental examination.

"Imagine how you would feel if you hadn't brushed your teeth for years!" concludes Dr Fyvie.

Special offer
For the rest of 2004, if you have your pet's teeth cleaned by the vet and buy a bag of Hill's Prescription Diet t/d (tooth diet) you can claim R50 off your vet bill, courtesy of Hill's Pet Nutrition.

For more information about pet dental care chat to your local vet, visit www.petdental.com, or call the Hill's Pet Nutrition Careline toll free on (0800) 228 783.
 

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