Ask a Vet: Pet Oral Hygiene

As many pet owners may or may not know oral hygiene is just as important for your pet as it is for you. Sadly, for most pets, their owners may not know they need their teeth taken care of, or they may not know how best to take care of their pet’s teeth! We spoke with our resident vet Olaf Hansen about just how important oral hygiene is for dogs and cats.

Q: Do dogs and Cats need their teeth taken care of?

A: Just like with humans there can be a buildup of plaque and bacteria in the mouth of your animal. The buildup can pose a danger to the teeth of the animal if left untreated for a very long time. They say a dog’s mouth is cleaner than humans but that isn’t exactly true and your pet can still have plaque and tartar buildup.  Poor dental health is bad enough but the biggest reason for heart disease in pets is poor dental health. This only drives home the importance of implementing good oral hygiene program for your pet.

Q: Can my pets get cavities?

A: Cavities in pets are less common than in humans due to diet, differences in oral bacteria and tooth shape. One of the main differences is that your dog and cat tend to eat less sugar than you do, which as your dentist will say, sugar is bad for your teeth. But in some instances, due to long time neglect of dental hygiene in your pet a dog or cat can get cavities. When they do happen, you should certainly go to your vet and discuss options for your pet since the cavities can make chewing painful and difficult for your pet.

Q: How often should I take care of my pets’ teeth?

A:  As with human’s regular care of your pets’ teeth is ideal for good oral hygiene and overall health.  However, most pets don’t like having their teeth brushed, therefore compliance is very low.  In fact, according to APPA, less than 8% of dogs and 4% of cats have their teeth brushed daily.  Tevra Brands understands this challenge for both the pet and their owners and have developed a patented new product that does not require brushing and only needs to be used once per week to eliminate plaque and tartar buildup.

Q: Are Dental Treats enough?

A: Well dental treats for dogs and cats are good you can always do more. Our own dental treats are great for cleaning your dog’s teeth and providing other health benefits, and it’s easier than brushing is, but the physical action of a dental treat chew is good but not a complete dental program.  I would recommend you take the extra step.

Q: What can I do if my pet hates having his teeth brushed?

A: Tevra Brands just developed our Brush Free Oral Gel that cleans and protects your pet’s mouth for a week! The simple paste that when applied spreads across the gums and creates a bioadhesive layer releasing the active over time stopping plaque and tartar buildup while keeping their breath nice and fresh.

The New Solution!

Tevra Brands BRUSH FREE Oral Gel is the answer to an age long problem revolutionizing oral care for pets.   We hope that more dogs will find this to be such an easy, affordable solution that compliance will increase, and more dogs will have good oral health.