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Dental Health.

 Why care about dental health?

 Here you can read all about dental health for animals: the   diseases, the symptoms and first signs of dental illnesses and   important steps how you prevent and keep a good oral health in   pets.

Dental health

Oral problems and diseases in dogs and cats have risen during the last 10 years. Problems with plaque, tartar and gum inflammation are very common in dogs and cats and are among the most common diseases veterinarians experience. 80% of all dogs and 70% of all cats have developed some form of dental disease by the age of 3.

Oral problems and diseases causes a lot of pain for both cats and dogs. The problems are not just a local problem to the mouth but may cause complication in the full body. Therefore, dental care is necessary to provide optimum health and optimize quality of life. It is important to be aware of that cats seldom shows that they have pain unless it is really severe and therefore it can be difficult to observe teeth problems. Furthermore, small dog breeds are more prone to get severe dental problems. This is due to the fact that the mouth is more narrow but with the same number of teeth. An adult dog has 42 teeth, a puppy has 28 temporary teeth and an adult cat has 30 teeth. Dental problems may lead to other severe diseases and in a pet with periodontal disease bacteria might enter into the blood stream causing sepsis, kidney, liver or heart diseases.

Halitosis is bad breath that usually persists during long periods. It is usually caused by poor oral hygiene. Bacteria are attached to the teeth and are building up a biofilm on the surface. The bacteria can produce unpleasant smelling gases. The bacteria uses food debris as substrate for efficient growth. The smell is symptomatic of increasing amounts of deposits, which may lead to gum disease.

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingival tissue. It is caused by plaque that is formed along the gingival line. It can be prevented by good oral hygiene techniques. Gingivitis is a prerequisite to periodontitis. Gingivitis can be reversed.

A sticky white accumulation on the surface of teeth. It consists of bacteria, bacterial products and food debris. Plaque is the cause of caries, periodontal disease and other oral diseases. It can be removed by e.g. tooth brushing.

Calculus which is also called tartar is formed from saliva and gingival fluid especially if it contains high levels of minerals. The fluid then causes a calcification of the plaque on the teeth. The calculus formed is porous and more plaque may adhere to this surface. Calculus can be produced within 48 hours after formation of plaque. Calculus can only be removed by scaling.

Periodontitis is a severe inflammation and destruction of periodontal tissue. This may lead to loss of attachment of teeth and tooth loss. The destruction is caused mainly by the inflammation and immune response of the pet. Severe periodontitis is not reversible. In a dog or cat with periodontal disease bacteria might enter the blood stream causing sepsis,kidney, liver or heart diseases.

In addition to dental scoring be observant on your dogs and its teeth and mouth:

  • It takes a long time for the dog to eat.
  • The dog does not chew the food but swallows it directly.
  • The dog prefers soft feed before dry feed.
  • The dog ends with chewing on sticks or chewing bones.
  • The dogs starts to hold the head in a different position when eating e.g. keep the head tilted when eating due to only using one side of the jaw.
  • Bad breath is a sign of oral problems.
  • The dog is drooling.
  • The dog rattles with teeth.
  • The dog has a coating on its teeth.
  • The dog is bleeding in the mouth.
  • Swelling and redness in the mouth might be signs of oral health problems. A healthy gum is pink.
  • The dog has itching around the mouth and rubs its nose against the floor or take the paw around the mouth.
  • The dog is not hungry and looses weight.


Symptoms for dogs

The European Veterinary Dental Society has an easy to follow instruction on Pet Dental Scoring which is useful for pet owner in making decision if professional help is needed.




In addition to dental scoring be observant on your cat and its teeth and mouth:

  • It takes a long time for the cat to eat.
  • The cat does not chew the food but swallows it directly.
  • It does not eat dry feed.
  • Bad breath is a sign of oral problems .
  • The cat is drooling.
  • The cat has a coating on its teeth .
  • The cat is bleeding in the mouth.
  • Swelling and redness in the mouth might be signs of oral health problems. A healthy gum is pink.
  • The cat has problems with tooth fracture(s).
  • The cat spills food around the feeding plate.
  • The cat starts to hold the head in a different position when eating e.g. keep the head tilted when eating.
  • The cat looses weight.

Symptoms for cats

The European Veterinary Dental Society has an easy to follow instruction on Pet Dental Scoring which is useful for pet owner in making decision if professional help is needed.





How Proper Pet Oral Care Leads To Healthy Pet Teeth

As a loving pet owner, you do everything possible to keep your pet in tip-top shape. From feeding them the most nutritious food and treats to making sure they exercise on a daily basis, but also taking them to the veterinarian for preventative care. However, are you paying enough attention to oral care? If not, it’s time to change your ways. After all, proper care is what makes the difference between healthy teeth and an oral condition that could be causing your pet discomfort (or even pain).

Important steps to a good dental and oral health in pets

There are products and diets addressing dental health on the market, the diet is important for good oral health in dogs and cats.

Dental bones and kibble products are common. Those products usually have a fibrous texture that mechanically adds in removing plaque. The plaque is the bases for production of tartar and gum disease e.g. gingivitis and periodontal disease.

When you are choosing products, look for products that have been scientifically studied. ProDen PlaqueOff® is an efficient complement for good dental health by its efficient removal of both plaque and tartar and through this it also improves the breath of a dog.

Some products have been scientifically evaluated by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) and therefore have the VOHC seal for plaque and tartar.

If it is difficult to brush the pet’s teeth, products for dental care is even more important to use.


Be observant to the status of the mouth of your pet.