2 February 2021
Keeping your dog or cat’s teeth clean is a crucial component of maintaining their overall health. Did you know that some form of periodontal disease is reported over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of 3? It is one of the most common diseases observed by veterinarians and is reaching epidemic proportions. Every dog and cat can be affected to some extent during their life. If untreated, periodontal disease can have many secondary health consequences such as abscesses, facial swelling, inflammation and deterioration of the bone, ocular disease, and nasal disease. Here are some tips and tricks you’ll need to know to help prevent your dog or cat from developing oral health problems.
Pet parents often overlook the importance of doing it for them. Scientists believe that continuously fighting the chronic bacterial infections that accompany periodontal disease can take a serious toll on a pet’s immune system over the course of their life. Although certain breeds are more prone to dental problems, all cats and dogs are at risk without proper oral care. Dogs and cats with “flat faces” are especially prone to periodontal disease. They have the same number of teeth, yet less space to fit them, leading to overcrowding and often crooked teeth, and making it easier for food particles to become trapped. Small dogs are also more at risk as they have a lower ratio of bone to teeth in their lower jaw when compared to large breeds, therefore the deterioration of the bone in small breeds has a larger impact.
Plaque deposits are aggravated by bacteria. These bacteria not only cause bad breath, but damage the gum tissue, connective tissue and eventually the bone. The good news is that plaque can be removed by abrasion. But, if left untreated, it will harden into tartar. Tartar can only be removed by a tooth scaling at your veterinarian, a process for which the animal will need to be anesthetized.
The early symptoms of periodontal disease are very subtle and can even go completely unnoticed which is why it is so important to make your pet’s oral health a priority. More advanced periodontitis may present symptoms such as:
Once plaque has started to develop, it will constantly form. While it is almost impossible to remove all plaque, providing a quality dental food and regular brushing can drastically slow its formation by physically removing bacteria and existing plaque.
Where prevention is concerned, brushing your pet’s teeth regularly really is the gold standard. Likewise, dental diets are a great way to help maintain healthy teeth however, dogs and cats often only chew with their molars making it hard for dental kibbles to target the teeth located at the front of their mouths. Brushing will help ensure all teeth are cleaned.
Read our article on How To Brush Your Dog or Cat’s Teeth here.
| Recommended: Nutrience Care Oral Health formula for cats and Nutrience Care Oral Health formula for dogs | |
Whether your pet is healthy and you are looking for a form of prevention or your pet is currently suffering from oral health issues such as gingivitis or halitosis (bad breath), all dogs and cats can benefit from a dental kibble. Start by looking for a formula that includes a larger kibble which will prolong chewing time to help mechanically clean teeth and fight plaque and tartar.
Dog and cat dental formulas such as Nutrience Care Oral Health are specifically formulated to help clean teeth during mealtime. Nutrience Care® Oral Health is formulated using Denta Crunch™ technology: an oversized kibble, designed to encourage your pet to chew thoroughly, made with a unique blend of insoluble fibers that creates an abrasive, brushing effect as they chew. This mechanical action will help clean your dog or cat’s teeth, maintain good oral health, and fight plaque and tartar build-up.
Most dental formulas on the market use cellulose as a source of insoluble fiber. Nutrience Care Oral Health uses a natural grass called Miscanthus. Miscanthus grass is a sustainably farmed perennial plant that is purposefully harvested for its insoluble fiber. Moreover, compared to cellulose, it requires far less processing. Cellulose is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry; wood chips are chemically digested to obtain cellulose present in the plant’s cell wall. Miscanthus grass is simply sun-dried and ground before being added to the food.
Stay Clean-50 is another ingredient added to Nutrience Care Oral Health. Stay Clean-50 is a Vitamin C derivative that inhibits the growth of plaque causing bacteria. It is extremely soluble in saliva. Therefore, because of the large kibble size, the animal will have more saliva from chewing, allowing Stay Clean-50 to readily dissolve and do its job properly! Most dental foods rely on sodium hexametaphosphate, a chemical that prevents plaque from calcifying into tartar. By targeting bacteria rather than tartar, Stay Clean-50 attacks the root of the problem.
As part of its promise to support pets’ general wellbeing, Nutrience Care Oral Health is also designed to promote optimal gut health with DIGESTIBOOST, an inclusion rich in soluble, insoluble, and prebiotic fibers.
That is why it never hurts to get an early start on a quality dental diet. Plus, many dogs and cats enjoy the extra crunch! Although Nutrience Care Oral Health can help contribute to good dental health, it does not replace the importance of regular brushing and dental checkups with a veterinarian.
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Case et al. Canine And Feline Nutrition. 3rd ed., Mosby, 2011, pp. 437-449.
Royal Veterinary College University Of London, 2020, https://www.rvc.ac.uk/review/Dentistry/Shared_Media/pdfs/perio_print.pdf. Accessed 10 Nov 2020. “STAY-C 50, Special Form Of Vitamin C In Support Of Dog And Cat Oral Care | Home – DSM Animal Nutrition & Health”. Dsm animal nutrition, 2020, https://www.dsm.com/anh/en/feedtalks/petfoodtalks/stay-c50-vitaminc-oral-care.html. Accessed 10 Nov 2020
