Oral health is not only essential to overall health and wellbeing for humans, but also for our animal friends as figures show four out of five dogs and cats over the age of 3 have some form of dental disease. In fact, research also points to bad teeth as the biggest problem for pet Greyhounds, with 39 per cent of the breed suffering from dental issues.
During Pet Dental Month in August, Australia’s leading innovator in animal health and welfare Vetafarm, highlights the need for proper dental care to reduce the number of Aussie pets that are unknowingly suffering.
“Many pets suffer in silence with periodontal disease. Dogs are great at hiding pain and generally have a strong appetite drive. They can eat whilst avoiding a painful place in their mouth and give the impression they are healthy,” said Veterinarian Dr Tony Gestier, Director at Vetafarm. “It’s common for periodontal disease to be picked up at later stages when pain and symptoms become apparent to the owner. Unfortunately, at this point veterinary treatment and even surgery may have become necessary and it’s clear the dog has been in considerable discomfort for quite some time”.
Vetafarm’s Lovebites range of functional chews and meal toppers now includes DentaShield chews to help improve general oral health. DentaShield contains Norwegian brown kelp to assist in the reduction of plaque and gingivitis and SHMP, which aids in tartar control and reduces dental calculus.
“We understand the difficulties of brushing a dog’s teeth, but we also understand the risks of poor dental care, so our mission is to provide a tool to combat the plaque and tartar that leads to Periodontal Disease that is simple and even enjoyable to use, for both dogs and their owners,” said Dr Tony.
Rescue Greyhounds receiving the DentaShield treatment
Vetafarm ‘pawtnered’ with Greyhound Rescue earlier this year, providing our Kennel Kids with DentaShield chews and contributing to the health of our beautiful hounds. Veterinarian Dr Matt Buchanan-Pascall from Sydney’s Macquarie Veterinary Hospital has been treating Greyhound Rescue hounds for many years.
“We see about 10 to 20 Greyhounds per month and 90% of them have some degree of dental disease, from minor plaque and staining to severe disease needing several extractions,” said Dr Matt. “I find adopters of Greyhounds to be the most engaged in the health and wellbeing of their dog, yet some don’t realise their dog has dental disease. When their Greyhound receives treatment, they say they have a new dog on their hands, happy and bursting with energy.”
Ambassadog Mako’s dental health routine
When Sydneysiders Issa Paulino and partner Trevor Mizzi adopted Mako over a year ago, they were concerned to learn so many Greyhounds had dental problems due to neglect during their racing career.
“Mako had some teeth extracted just after she came to Greyhound Rescue, and we know that thishappens to most Greyhounds that are rescued. We think that prevention is key and in the long run it can save us thousands of dollars on vet fees and, of course, is important for her overall wellbeing,” said Issa. As part of Mako’s oral hygiene routine, her teeth are brushed once a week and fed DentaShield a few times a week. For her breakfast and dinner, she gets oral care dry food along with her meal to ensure she cleans her teeth, said Issa.
Signs of dental disease in pets
Signs of dental disease in dogs and cats include bad breath, reduced appetite, behavioural changes around eating and drinking, broken or loose teeth, lumps or bleeding in the mouth, discolouration or build-up of plaque and tartar on teeth, redness of inflammation of the gum, drooling, chattering of the teeth or pawing at the mouth.
Tips to maintain good oral health
As Periodontal Disease can go undetected for long periods of time, prevention is preferred to cure.
• Brush your pet’s teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste formulated for pets.
• Feed dental treats and chews, like Lovebites DentaShield.
• Visit your vet at least once a year for a dental check-up to catch any early signs of disease and ask for advice about a dental care routine for your pet.
Visit our online store to try Vetafarm Dentashield for yourself!