Preventive Dental Care
Routine dental care matters.
How can I help my pet maintain good oral hygiene?
The best way to make sure your pet’s teeth remain healthy is by having routine annual exams. Whether you have a puppy or kitten with a mouth full of baby teeth or an adult pet whose teeth need to be checked for plaque, tartar, or dental disease, having a veterinarian examine them is the first step to making sure they’re in good health.
During your pet’s comprehensive physical, your veterinarian will perform a dental health assessment and make recommendations for preventive care. Sometimes this will mean performing good home preventative care, other times, it will mean scheduling an appointment for a dental cleaning or extraction.
How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth
We recommend CET toothpaste, which uses enzymes to clean the teeth and is specially formulated for cats and dogs. (Please note you should never use human toothpaste on your pets!) CET toothpaste comes in many flavors and some pets really like the taste. For dogs, we recommend finger toothbrushes. For cats, it is better to use cotton tipped swabs to wipe the teeth.
Please take a look at two videos on brushing your dog’s teeth.
Although we recommend brushing your pet’s teeth daily as part of a good preventive care routine, we understand that it’s not always possible. Luckily, there are other ways to maintain your pet’s oral health when you can’t brush their teeth.
- Utilize water additives
- Give your pet a dental chew every other day
- Choose food and treats that control plaque and promote dental health
- Schedule dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian
Call us at (401) 823-7211 to schedule your pet’s oral health assessment or dental cleaning.
