22 Nov Home Dental Care for Pets
Pet owners often ask, “What can I do at home to help keep my pet’s teeth healthy?” Dogs and cats are prone to developing periodontal disease and the build-up of plaque and tartar, just like people are. Professional dental care is important to fully assess and manage dental diseases and dogs and cats, but dental care at home is crucial to maintaining a healthy, disease-free mouth in our pets. Most people brush their own teeth daily, but many don’t think about brushing their pet’s teeth as well. Toothbrushing is the gold standard for home dental care in veterinary patients, but there are a variety of other tools and products that can be helpful.
At-Home Dental Care for Pets: Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth
Plaque, a sticky, colorless bacterial film, starts to form on the teeth within hours of eating and hardens into tartar (which cannot be brushed off) within 24 hours. For this reason, effective toothbrushing routines involve brushing the teeth every single day. The American Veterinary Medical Association affirms that daily toothbrushing is the single most effective action you can take to improve your pet’s dental health.
The ideal toothbrush is a soft-bristle one, which is gentle on gums and enamel yet can effectively remove plaque from below the gumline. While there are “dog” toothbrushes on the market, a normal “human” toothbrush or a child’s toothbrush for small dogs and cats works just fine. Pet toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors such as chicken, beef and fish, which will enhance the experience for your pet. It is important to use a pet-specific toothpaste, as your dog or cat won’t be able to spit out the excess.
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) was launched by a group of board-certified veterinary dentists in 1997 as a way to endorse veterinary dental products that show a statistically significant reduction in plaque and tartar. Products that have been approved for dogs include a variety of dental diets, rawhide chews, edible chew treats, water additives, oral gel sprays, toothpastes and toothbrushes, wipes and professional dental sealants. For cats, there are diets, water additives, oral gels and sprays, treats, wipes and food-additive powders which have been approved.
Comprehensive Oral Health Care for Pets in Fort Collins
While toothbrushing is the ideal at-home dental care for both dogs and cats, it is not feasible for many pet owners due to pet resistance, physical limitations of the owner or lifestyle reasons. Adding a dental diet, chew, water additive or wipe to your pet’s routine can be a helpful way to improve their oral health, but does not replace regular, anesthetized professional dental cleanings and examinations. Many people take excellent care of their own teeth at home, brushing and flossing TWICE a day, and yet human dentists still recommend professional dental cleaning at least twice a year. We discuss all that goes into professional dental procedures, which are commonly called “COHAT”, meaning Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment.
To schedule your pet’s next professional dental examination and cleaning, call us today at 970-732-9777!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/21/2025) Photo by Cierra Voelkl on Unsplash