February is Pet Dental Health Month; a time to raise awareness about this part of our pets’ general health and wellbeing, which is very important – for so much more than cosmetic reasons.

What looks like ‘just a bit of tartar’ can progress, sometimes quite quickly, to disease of the gums and the ligaments that hold the teeth in place. Infections can result, and these can even affect other parts of the body like the kidneys and the heart. All of these would require veterinary attention.

Some figures quote that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats will have some form of dental or gum disease by the time they are just three years old. It sounds like a shocking statistic, but I can definitely believe it, based on what I see in my patients daily. Prevention is better than cure so, if possible, I would always advise starting good oral care habits as soon as you can with your pets. The younger the better!

Use a soft toothbrush and pet-specific toothpaste

As in humans, the gold standard technique to look after teeth is by regular brushing in cats and dogs. I totally understand this may be easier said than done in some pets, but introducing the process very slowly may really increase compliance. Remember to use a soft toothbrush and pet-specific toothpaste only. Your vet or vet nurse would be happy to talk you through how to do this.

Other good home care options are available, especially prescription dental foods, quality dental toys to encourage chewing, and use of certain antibacterial gels for the teeth and gums.

In rabbits and other small mammals, feeding appropriate diets with plenty of fibre and allowing access to safe chew toys is the mainstay of keeping teeth healthy and preventing over-growing.

Regular health checks at your vets can help detect problems early, especially as pets are good at hiding signs of problems. For example, they often continue eating despite loose, painful teeth.

If you do spot unusually smelly breath in your pet, if they are taking a long time to eat, or have any blood coming from their mouth, please ensure they are checked by your vet.