We all know how important dental health is for ourselves, but did you know it’s equally crucial for our pets? Dental disease is the most common health issue in pets, with 70% of cats and 80% of dogs experiencing some level of disease by age of two¹.
Causes of dental disease in pets
The underlying cause of dental disease is plaque. Plaque is that furry film you feel on your teeth when you first wake up in the morning. It is a mix of saliva, bacteria and tiny food particles that sticks to your teeth and accumulates especially along the gum line. If not removed, it can mix with minerals in saliva to cause tartar and the bacteria can cause pain and inflammation of the gums, which is known as gingivitis. This inflammation can eventually affect the tissues that support the teeth leading to tooth loss. It isn’t always obvious that your pet has dental disease, however some of the signs you may notice include bad breath, drooling, swollen gums and loss of interest in chew toys.
How to keep your pets’ teeth clean
Like humans, pet dental care involves both professional and at home care. Your vet is your pet’s dentist – regular check-ups and cleanings by your vet are essential. Since gums are very sensitive and dogs and cats won’t sit still for dental work, this requires general anesthesia. This ensures your vet can properly check their entire mouth for any problems and allows them to thoroughly clean their teeth, including under the gumline.
Pets also need a daily home dental care routine to keep their teeth clean in between vet visits. One option is to brush their teeth daily; however, our pets are not always cooperative, which is why feeding them specialised dental foods can be a good alternative, which helps to clean their teeth whilst they eat.
Choosing the right dental diet
The key to controlling dental disease is to control plaque, and this is something that not all dental diets and treats do. One thing to look for is the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal on the pack. This shows that the product has clinical studies which have been examined by a group of independent veterinary experts and that the product has been proven to help control either plaque, tartar or both. Hill’s dental foods (Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d and Science Diet Oral Care) is the only dental food that has been awarded the VOHC seal for the control of plaque and tartar for both dogs and cats.
How Hill’s Dental Diets work
Most dry kibble shatters and crumbles in the mouth when the tooth comes into contact with the food. This is why ordinary dry kibble has minimal effect on the dental health of our pets.
Hill’s dental foods have an innovative kibble designed to work like a toothbrush as pets eat. The unique combination of kibble size, shape and interlocking fibre technology allows the tooth to penetrate deeply into the kibble before it breaks. The kibble gently scrubs the tooth surface to clean teeth as the pet eats.
Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care Vs Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d
Kibble size and density are both very important for the Hill’s dental foods. While all Hill’s dental foods have a large kibble size, t/d kibbles are the biggest. The large kibble size cleans the teeth to the gum line to promote healthy gums and teeth. Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d also has a lower density which prevents the kibble from breaking easily, increasing the time that the kibble is in contact with the tooth surface, improving its tooth cleaning ability. It is these differences in size and density between the t/d and Oral Care kibbles that make a difference in the level of reduction of plaque, tartar and stain. Science Diet Oral Care is for healthy pets to improve dental health. Prescription Diet t/d is for pets with signs of dental disease and should be used on the recommendation of your vet.
Long-term use of Hill’s Dental Diets
Both Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d and Science Diet Oral Care are complete and balanced for adult dogs and cats. They not only support dental health but also provide essential nutrients for your pet’s daily health, including a clinically proven antioxidant blend to support a healthy immune system.
If your dog or cat is two years old or older, it’s likely they have some degree of dental disease. Treat their teeth as you would your own. Book in regular check-ups with your vet and consider feeding them Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care, or Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d if recommended by your vet, to help maintain their dental health every day.
References
- Niemiec B, Gawor J, Nemec A et al. World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines JSAP 2020;61:E50
