PETE WEDDERBURN Animal Doctor

instrument or an ultrasonic descaler.

Tartar accumulates on the teeth, with layer after layer getting thicker and thicker, and it pushes against the gums, causing inflammation and allowing infection to develop.

The aim of routine dental care in pets is to remove the plaque before it can develop into tartar. If this is done effectively, dogs can have healthy mouths with perfect teeth right up into old age.

Plaque can be removed easily, like wiping wet paint off woodwork, but it needs to be done regularly. The gentle abrasive action of a toothbrush has been proven to be the most effective way of doing this, but dogs do need to be trained to accept this. The next best approach is to give regular dental treats, designed for plaque removal and proven to be effective. Traditional methods, like feeding raw bones, can lead to problems such as broken teeth because the surface of the bones is so hard. This is what the scientists have proven: I am not saying this because “I want more money off people”.

If plaque is not removed regularly, it is almost certain to develop into tartar. There are ways that this transformation can be limited: substances can be placed in the mouth that stop the reaction of minerals in saliva with plaque. Some dental treats include these substances, so that as the pet chews the treats, the teeth are given an anti-tartar coating.

Despite people’s efforts, the accumulation of tartar on the teeth is still common in dogs. As I’ve said, this can only be removed by veterinary attention, and since dogs won’t sit still and open their mouths while this is done, a general anaesthetic is needed. Of course this can be costly, but there’s no other way for the problem to be solved.

And this is why people like myself talk about preventive measures: if you can take steps to keep your pet’s teeth healthy in the first place, there may be no need for the more expensive remedial measures that are needed to deal with advanced dental problems in a pet’s mouth.

The introduction of preventive dental care means that I see far fewer foul-smelling, seriously diseased pets’ mouths than when I qualified as a vet thirty years ago. How can this not be good news?

To watch videos of Pete demonstrating preventive dental care in pets, visit the Pedigree Ireland Facebook page