What to do about dry mouth in pets
organisations within the food industry from a global perspective. The benefits for manufacturers seeking certification are numerous. FSSC certification can increase market opportunities, increase customer confidence in the company`s food safety practices as well as improve internal processes to ensure a safe product with increased perception on brand quality. With international recognition, comes inter national market reach, not to mention the fact that keeping in line with international regulation trends helps to prepare for potential local regulation changes as well.
Founded by Hannes van Jaarsveld, Montego Pet Nutrition began producing Montego Classic in early 2000. Hard work and the determination to produce top quality dog food at affordable prices ensured Montego’s continued success in the marketplace. As a proud member of the PFI (Pet Food Industry), Montego embarked on the ven- ture of obtaining its FSSC 22000 status for its manufacturing facility in Graaff Reinet six years ago. The road to certification was a long and difficult one. It was essential for all staff in the company to work together to obtain the FSSC certification.
After years of hard work, the final audit (stage two – 4.5 days) took place in September 2015. Montego passed the audit with flying colours. The auditor was very impressed with the manufacturing plant and the high standard of its food safety management system. He said Montego Pet Nutrition was one of the cleanest and most hygienic factories he had ever audited. This FSSC certification of the manufacturing facility, manufacturing processes, products and food safety management system certifies compliance with all international standards, ranking Montego Pet Nutrition with the best pet food manufacturers in the world. DROOL—it’s one of the less desirable aspects of pet ownership, right? But in reality, saliva plays a number of vital roles. It moisturizes food, making it easier to swallow, is essential to oral comfort, and helps prevent dental disease and infection within the mouth. That’s why dry mouth (xerostomia) in pets can be so devastating.
Causes of Dry Mouth in Dogs and Cats
Dry mouth has numerous causes in dogs and cats. Dehydration or a fever can result in dry mouth but the sensation should resolve once the underlying problem is dealt with. People often complain about dry mouth when taking different types of medications and sometimes owners will notice pets licking their lips or smacking their gums when they are on the same types of drugs. It’s probably safe to assume that animals experience dry mouth under these circumstances, too. Commonly used veterinary drugs that could be expected to lead to dry mouth in pets include antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, sedatives, atropine, anaesthetic agents, and many (many) more. If your dog or cat seems to be annoyed by a sensation of dry mouth after being given a medication, talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of decreasing the dosage or switching to a different drug.
But several other causes of dry mouth in pets aren’t quite as straightforward to treat. Let’s take a look at these and what can be done to prevent the discomfort and complications that can be associated with dry mouth in pets:
Radiation treatment
Radiation treatment for cancers of the head and neck that dam- ages the salivary glands is a common cause of dry mouth in people. Since radiation treatment is being used more frequently in veterinary medicine, cases of dry mouth in pets could be expected to rise, too. Radiation-induced dry mouth may be permanent or temporary. – www.petmd.com