Important News About Pet Care


Pet Dental HealthFebruary is National Pet Dental Health Month!  I recently sat down with Greenies, which makes dental treats for dogs and cats and Dr. Brook Niemiec, a veterinary dentist and the President of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry.  While I consider myself a huge dog person (cats are okay, too, I guess) I didn't realize how much there was to know - and be concerned about - when it comes to the teeth of our furry family member(s).

Greenies had some eye opening information from a consumer study of almost 1000 pet owners.  It found that 1 in 3 people surveyed think it's normal for a pet to have stinky breath.  Turns out, it's most definitely not - it's usually a sign that your pet could have periodontal disease, which in itself is pretty icky, but is even worse when you realize it can be affecting your pet's overall health.  Gum disease in pets can lead to much more serious problems such as diabetes, heart, liver and kidney problems. 

I was also unaware that small dogs are more susceptible to gum disease as their mouths are more crowded and they typically don't chew as much as bigger dogs; the mechanical act of chewing helps "clean" the teeth, although chewing hard objects shouldn't be encouraged and may actually cause tooth fractures.

Have you ever heard that dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans?  Another myth! A dog's mouth has plenty of bacteria, but the microbial profile is different than ours', so the bacteria's less likely to infect us. (We're more likely to get an infection being bit by a fellow human, which hopefully won't happen!) Perhaps that's the origin of the idea that dogs' mouths are cleaner. 

Armed with this information, Dr. Niemiec and Greenies are on a quest to educate pet owners about the importance of taking care of their pets' teeth.  They encourage pet owners to be more proactive, brushing their pets' teeth on a regular basis.  Dr. Niemec recommends starting pets at an early age and making it rewarding (condition them by rewarding regularly with a treat afterward) so they learn to like the process.  Functional treats like those from Greenies can also be helpful.  While dogs and cats can enjoy gettin' their chew on, the shape of the treats help mechanically scrub the teeth while providing essential protein and vitamins.  Dental Chews