Dental hygiene is an important facet of pet health. More than 70% of dogs over age 3 and cats over age 4 have issues with plaque, calculus, tartar, gingivitis, and, worst of all for those of us who keep our pets close, halitosis that could knock over an elephant. Advances in veterinary medicine have discovered many things that are important for pet caretakers to be aware of.

Veterinarians and groomers have been the traditional dental hygienists of the pet world, but there is not reason owners can't assist in preventing or reducing disease in their pets' mouths. Dental sticks are easy, but not entirely effective.  Water additives are hard to maintain at the proper percentage to be optimally effective.  Brushing, well, we all know how hard that can be, despite meat flavored toothpaste even on a cooperative dog.

Veterinarians often hear the woes of finance when it comes to a serious cleaning and scaling of their pet's teeth.  As I just mentioned, dogs and cats don't hold still the way a human will (more or less) during a tooth scaling.  The pet must undergo anesthesia so the doctor or technician can radio graph the mouth, then remove the build up from the tooth and the gum line with sonic or hand scaling instruments, rinse with lots of water and antiseptic, polish the enamel surfaces, rinse again, and then undergo any extractions. Pets don't hold still, they don't rinse and spit, and don't appreciate their teeth being removed any more than we do.

The more an owner can do to reduce the need for this procedure, the better for everyone! Older pets will often dictate that they need pre-anesthetic blood work, another cost that is sometimes more expensive than the cleaning itself. Antibiotics, if necessary, can be difficult to administer at home, and once a tooth is gone, the remaining teeth are more likely to see the build up of tartar even faster because the missing teeth no longer articulate with remaining teeth to help clear the plaque from the surfaces when biting.

Gum disease can cause organ failure.  The bacteria in your pets' mouths makes it way through the bloodstream and can eventually cause heart, kidney, and liver disease.  Caught early, those red and inflamed gums can be brought back to normal, but if left untreated, the damage can be irreversible.

Be sure your dogs and cats are seen regularly by a veterinarian, and in between veterinary visits, you can do your part to reduce the frequency and severity of the anesthesia dental prophy.  You have probably heard of the "anesthesia free" dental cleaning.  This is a lot like comparing the cleaning you get at your dentist's office to what you do at home twice a day with your toothbrush. It is not a substitute, but an additional way to keep your pet's breath fresher, the teeth cleaner. Many groomers offer this service; we at All Pets Concierge Service also offer this service.

A three step process with follow up products sent home will help ensure that your dogs and cats are getting in-between care from their veterinarian. We used a product that is completely natural and could be used on your own children or yourself.  There is very little taste, no chemical sedation involved (although cats may get body wrapped or "clipped") and the entire process takes less than 20 minutes.

• Pre-treat the teeth with our zinc-formula spray
• Wait 20 minutes
• Irrigate the mouth with water to remove debris
• Treat with our zinc-formula gel
• Follow up daily or every 2-3 days with the gel at home
• Repeat in 2 weeks for more advanced cases, or every 12 weeks

Of course, as I said before, all pets should see their veterinarian at least once a year for a complete check up nose to tail.  Pets under a year old or over 7 years old should see a veterinarian twice a year unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian of another schedule.

For more information about dental hygiene and our at-home dental care service, see us at All Pets Concierge Service, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  If you would like to purchase our zinc -based spray and gel products, contact us by clicking here!  We don't just pet-sit, we inform, educate, and want the best care for your pets!  Thanks for reading, and happy tails!