Did you know that dental tartar is the number one diagnosis made by veterinarians in dogs and cats?
Dental disease in pets is such a big problem that nationally we devote a whole month (February) to reinforce how important dental care is for our pets. Be it dogs, cats, rabbits, or horses, the status of the teeth can be the difference between a healthy animal and one who is in pain, not eating well, or suffers from diseases of other organs as a result of poor dental health.
Tips to care for your pet’s teeth:
Brush. We can’t say it enough. Brush. Home dental care centers on brushing. We have a great how-to video that shows you the easy steps in starting a brushing program. Once your pet is used to it, don’t be surprised if he comes running to you when he sees the toothpaste coming out!
Rely on your veterinarian. Your veterinarian is the person best equipped to evaluate the health of your pet’s mouth. Before you start brushing, it’s a good idea to have your pet’s mouth checked to make sure there are no major problems. Why not schedule an appointment today?
Use pet dental care products. Choose a pet toothpaste (not a human one). Many types of pet toothbrushes are available – even ones you put over your finger. Chew products, like Greenies, are another great tool to remove that plaque before it becomes sealed-on tartar!
Stay on top of it. In just 3 days plaque (a film on the teeth made of up bacteria and food debris) turns into tartar (a mineralized substance that can only be removed through a professional veterinary dental cleaning). Perform daily dental care so tartar doesn’t develop.
Have a try at winning a dental care product…enter our ToothCare Dental Kit *Giveaway! Two lucky people will receive a free Drs. Foster & Smith ToothCare Dental Kit for dogs or cats.
[CLOSED:] To enter the ToothCare Dental Kit Giveaway. leave a comment on what a difference good dental care made to the health of your pet, or why you need to improve your pet’s dental care. Deadline to enter: Noon on Monday, February 20, 2012.
You’ll add years to your pet’s life and put a smile on your face by providing the good dental care your pet needs. Why not start today?
Details:
* One entry per person. No purchase is necessary to participate. You should be a legal resident of the United States and 18 years or older. Void where prohibited. Shipping to winners will be supplied by Drs. Foster and Smith. Two lucky winners will be chosen at Noon CST on February 20, 2012. Winners will be announced on www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2012/02/pet-dental-health/. Sponsor: Foster & Smith, Inc., P.O. Box 100, Rhinelander, WI 54501-0100. Employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. Winner will be notified by email, and must reply with their shipping information within 7 days. Failure to reply within the 7 days will forfeit your prize.
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
As a pet owner, I feel very strongly about the health of my pets’ mouths. I purchase treats and chews specifically designed to aid in plague removal in addition to their brushings. Thanks for taking the time to let pet owners know just how important this topic is!
I just got my ESS teeth done at our VET… what a total differance it makes…. I brush (Try, she hates it) ALL the time now… I purchase the chews but the brushing is what is going to be the thing that makes it! Thanks for all information AND videos.. it helps!
I have to admit, I don’t brush my cats an dogs teeth often enough. That said, they all eat kibble, and the dogs get bones. My vet says that at 11, Lucky has good, strong teeth, and very little tartar. He has never had to have his teeth cleaned, knock on wood. I check the cats’ teeth every so often, and if I see tartar, I pop it off. I did have a couple of cats that had resorption lesions, but the both had other serious health problems. So far, my vet’s pretty happy with their dental health.
I use dental treat and chews for my 5 dogs. We currently don’t brush our dogs teeth but something that we are concerned about and researching it now.
What a difference it makes in the dog’s later years. Start early, but it is never too late!
We give our dogs raw bones to help clean their teeth in between brushing. They have sparkly clean, white teeth and fresh breath.
I am fanatical about my Boxer with everything including his teeth, and gums. Since Boxers tend to have a greater incidence of fibromatous epuli than other breeds of dog. We make sure to check his teeth, and gums twice a week. Boxer is suplied with plenty of raw bones for chewing since they act as nature’s toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss combined for dogs (and cats). In addition I brush his teeth so he is use to having his teeth, gums, and mouth inspected by humans. My Vet is well versed on Boxers and always makes sure to check his sparkling smile when we visit her office. At 6 and a half years of age he has a gorgeous smile, and strong healthy teeth.
Taking care of our pets teeth is very important preventive medicine! Tartar removal can be expensive! So goes the saying “Pay now or Pay later! Unfortunately once a pet loses their teeth, Dentures are not an option. Their teeth are very important for the proper digestion process to take place! It’s also nice to see their pretty toothy smiles!
My sister and I have been brushing our teeth every night before bed since mom adopted us. We use the Drs. Fosters and Smith Tarter control toothpaste and mom’s toothbrush, well, we get her old one every time she gets a new one, We both love getting our teeth brushed and our teeth are in great shape according to our vet. My sister is almost 10 and I am 5 and we have no need for dental care at the vet! My breed the GBGV is known for tarter, but not on my chompers! We have occasional chew items like bones and bully sticks but we think the teeth brushing makes the biggest difference! Thanks to you for a great toothpaste and to mom for getting us brushed every night!
I brush my shelties teeth regularly & give her teeth cleaning treats & bones! Her vet says she’s well taken care of, that her teeth are great! I feel with our good dental routine she will have a happy healthy long life!!
I just picked my “kids” (two leopard hounds) up from their annual dental cleaning appointment. They have fresh breath and clean gums which is very important for my senior pups!
My newest baby, Bobby, has gum disease and has to take antibiotics for the first five days of each month. Someone had thrown him out in the woods and he found his way to the home of the vet technician that works at my vet’s office. She carried him in to the vet for testing and put him up for adoption as she has a rescue unit for FIV and Feline Leukemia kitties and could not put a healthy kitty in with the kitties in her rescue unit. Bobby has lost 2 teeth due to gum disease. We are hoping the antibiotics will help save his other teeth for him. He was only 16 months old when he was rescued and he is a beautiful Manx kitty. Can’t imagine why anyone would throw away such a precious and loveable little boy. He insists on lap time every night. I never had a lap baby before but have one now. Bobby is my 5th rescued kitty.
Keeping my dog’s teeth healthy is very important to me. Nelson is 7 months old and just got all his adult teeth. We have started a regular brushing routine and I always give him healthy dental chews. His teeth are strong and beautiful…and I want them to stay that way. My first poodle lived to be 18 years old and our vet said her great teeth helped her stay healthy for so long.
We are careful in choosing treats, chew toys, and food to make sure that our dogs’ teeth get lots of crunchy, tooth-scrubbing action on a regular basis, but brushing and dental visits to the vet are something we need to be much more proactive about. I’d be glad to learn more about brushing dogs’ teeth and other ways to help maintain their dental quality into their old age.
HI,
For our beautiful golden retriever (Briana), we use at-home dental care, as well as dental chewies and a yearly visit to the vet for tarter removal. She just had this procedure done, and her teeth sparkled. The vet said she has perfect teeth for a dog her age (6). I’m looking forward to many more years with my baby, and I know that keeping her teeth clean is a huge step in making that happen.
My 15 year old cat has some stinking breath. Along with my other 2 cats and a dog.
The vet says Maddie’s teeth look good but I know we really need to brush more.
My chi Pom loves his teeth brushed however they are hardto keep clean. I give him things that are suppose to help, but haven’t found anything that does, I hate having to knock him outtoclean histeeth
Both of our dogs could use some dental help. I love to snuggle and let them kiss on me, but their breath about knocks me out!! We use hard food and treats, but the tartar seems to set in anyway!
I just switched over to a topical dental gel and water additive which has made dental care for my three dogs a lot easier! They have fresh breath too!
We are a very conscientious family regarding teeth care. My children brush their teeth (at least) twice a day. As our newest family member has been with us for almost 4 months (rescue from our local shelter), the kids have asked why Skooter doesn’t brush his teeth – Skooter is our dog!
Until I saw the Drs. Foster and Smith facebook newsfeed, it actually didn’t occur to me that we needed to include Skooter in our daily teeth care (I feel awful). The funny part to this story: Just last week I caught my 3 year old sharing his toothbrush and toothpaste and trying to brush the dogs teeth (they are best friends and share everything)!
After my sisters boxer has extremely bad dental care/teeth, she took him to the vet and they had to remove 10 teeth!! So i started brushing and caring for my dogs teeth, he LOVES IT, he runs to the bathroom, and sits still until I tell him he’s done!! he also gets an assortment of treats/bones/chews to help keep his teeth clean. Clean teeth are a very important part of your pets care!
I learned many years ago how important oral health was to overall health when my oldest cat was dx’d with diabetes. Since then I’ve been pro-active with my cats (with water additives and food additives) to keep their teeth clean and their mouths free of infection and now with my dogs…who get brushed and ‘gel-led’ every night. I also try to use treats good for their teeth (either the shape or the ingredients) so that when their getting a treat, I’m getting a treat (fresh breath on my pillow) too!
I never realized how important it is to clean your dogs teeth till I worked at a vet clinic and when dogs came in to get their teeth cleaned over half of their teeth where removed! So I encourage people to take care of your animals teeth.
I rescued a dachshund from someone a couple years ago and when we first got her the teeth were so bad 9 had to be pulled when she got her dental. I have been using the water additives, enzymatic toothpaste, and the dental wipes in an effort to combat the effects of tooth decay. Her teeth are in much better shape now and though she doesn’t like having her teeth brushed/wiped, she allows me to. My other dachshund, a mini whom I also rescued, came to us with horrible teeth that were brown and gross. She had to be stabilized for her seizure disorder before going under for a cleaning and she had to have 1 tooth pulled even though her teeth were that horrible looking. Before she did get her teeth done, I used the wipes, enzymatic toothpaste, and water additives for her, too. A whole lot of the brown stains and nastiness cleaned up with regular use. It pays to clean and brush your dogs teeth!
Like Greenies for help !!!
Being the proud owner of 3 rescued dogs, a 9yr old vizsla (Bella), a 4 yr old lab retriever mix (Tucker), and a 4yr old pug (Jasmine aka mino) i (we) try extreamly hard to not only provide our animals wih the best care possible, but also to provide them with the ability to live their lives to the fullest. Proper health care is vital to that sucsess. Dental care is one of the most over looked aspects of that. Brushing your dogs teeth isnt the most fun you will have with your k9, however deep in their hearts they will thank you and you will give yourself a pat on the back as the kisses they give you will be quite a bit more “refreshing”
We do not have problems with our dog teeth. he is a puppy, but want to make sure it is taken care of now so there is no problems on the future!
Feeding raw diet helps to keep my dogs premolars and molars clean without brushing, but theres still some buildup on canines, so I use enzymatic toothpaste in combination with a finger toothbrush to remove any tartar off them. I will occasionally use the scaler as well.
I know that my 7 year old rescue’s overall health will be better, longer if I keep up with his teeth brushing. I am fortunate that he lets me do it, even though it definitely is not his favorite thing in the world!
I brush my little Gizmo’s teeth once a week with a kids toothbrush. he thinks we are playing. and he still has puppy breath because of it. yay!
I’m embarrased to admit that I have never brushed my Bichon’s teeth, and she’s 2 years old. I have relied on chew toys and hard treats, as well as feeding her dry dog food. I know that I’ve been doing it the wrong way, and am planning to immediately make changes in her dental health.
You’re right! Jemma comes running when I get the toothpaste out each night. After I adopted her, she got a full cleaning and I have been staying on top of it with almost-daily brushing. Her teeth look great and I feel good knowing I could be adding years to her life.
My dog benefits from brushings as much as we do. He gets clean teeth and we enjoy his fresh breath. He likes to chew on his toothbrush but really enjoys the peanut butter toothpaste!
Good dental care helps prevent doggie breath, healthy blood,, clean teeth. I use frozen veggies to help prevent plaque, but nothing beats good teeth brushing and dental check ups.
I have to get better at burshing my dogs teeth they are still puppys but I need to think about what will happen when they get older and if we start now how much money it will save us.
What a very important topic that can add years to your pet’s life! Thank you for bringing this to everyone’s attention, it’s never too late to start
I’ve been working up to actually brushing the teeth of my pets by trying out some dental “swipes”. On our last trip to the vet, we got a sample pack of toothpaste and brushes to give it try. I’m all for preventive maintenance that can lead to an overall happier, healthier pet *and* less invasive & expensive trips to the vet.
My dog is 2 yrs old and starting to get stinky breath. Need to have a dental done at the vet and then start good dental habits of brushing his teeth, which will help his breath stay fresh.
I would love to find a toothpaste my dog likes!
Thank you for the reminder of how important pet dental health is!
I was just talking to our vet the other day about starting our new puppy out early cleaning her teeth so she will be used to it and kepp her pretty white teeth. Our 12 yr old lab Dixie is gonna get a late start. Her breathe really needs help..lol She my swettie though!!!!!
I was just talking to my vet the other day about starting our new puppy out right by cleaning her teeth, we have a 12 yo old lab that I wash I had done that for. Better late than never though! They will both be getting their teeth brushed from now on..
I feel good dental heath is a must for my pet just as it is for me. I take him to get his regular teeth cleaning and then I give him products that promote good dental health
I know dental health is important to my pet’s health and bad teeth can cause pain, as well as organ damage, especially to the heart and kidneys. I have always given my dogs nylabones and had their teeth cleaned every so often by the veternarian, however, my old dogs teeth are now being found around the house, I am making a commitment to greater preventative measures of cleaning with enzymatic toothpastes and brushing on regular basis. I’m sorry I didn’t commit to this sooner.
I brush my Lab’s teeth, but it’s always a game — once I get her from biting the tootbrush we’re home free. The vet says her teeth look good — but still have a little tartar buildup (she’s 7 years old). Which is why you have to be diligent about brushing regularly.
We had our older dog Bruce’s teeth cleaned earlier this year because they were bad. He lost interest in chewing for whatever reason. It would’ve been better to keep up with his oral healthy by brushing, etc. Wayyyy less $$$!
I was so proud when I took my 12yr old to the vet this year and he told me how good her teeth look. He asked me if I have ever had them professionally cleaned and I told him I don’t want to put my dog under so I keep them clean myself. He told me he wished everyone took care of their dog’s teeth as well as I did.
Need to know how to properly scale my older dog’s teeth. It’s hard to find good online tutorials! Just ordered the DFS tooth scaler, so we’ll see.
#CELEBRATE with a new set of dental tools and meds from DFS! Thanks.