Healthy teeth for your dog or cat

Dogs and cats use their mouths for eating, playing and exploring.

A healthy mouth helps them do all of that in comfort. A few minutes of care at home, and a look at their teeth at each vet visit, go a long way.

These notes draw on advice from the PDSA, International Cat Care and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Brushing at home

The PDSA recommends brushing to prevent dental disease. Brushing removes plaque before it hardens into tartar.

Use a toothpaste made for pets, never human toothpaste. Pet toothpaste is safe for them to swallow.

Take it slowly over a few weeks, with plenty of rewards.

Let your pet taste the toothpaste as a treat.
Get them used to having their mouth and lips gently touched.
Move on to a finger brush, then a pet toothbrush.

Brushing every day, or at least three times a week, makes serious problems much less likely. It is easiest to start young, but older pets can learn too. If your pet is unhappy with their mouth being touched, do not push it.

Chews, food and other helpers

Dental toys and chews can help clean the teeth and gums. Supervise your pet with them, and count chews as part of the daily food allowance. The PDSA suggests extra chews or treats make up no more than 10% of it.

Some dry biscuits in a dog's meals may help a little, but they do not replace brushing. Dog-safe mouthwash added to drinking water can help too. Never use human mouthwash on a pet.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council gives a seal to products whose data shows they help control plaque or tartar. Its council of nine veterinary dentists and dental scientists reviews the evidence that makers submit.

What to look for

Many pets keep eating even when their mouth hurts. Cats are especially good at hiding pain. So it helps to lift their lips and look now and then.

Signs worth mentioning to your vet include bad breath, red or bleeding gums, wobbly or broken teeth and drooling. Others are chewing on one side, preferring soft food and pawing at the mouth.

The PDSA suggests a dental check at least once a year. The annual booster visit is a good time.

Cats in particular

International Cat Care says as many as 85% of cats aged three and over have some form of dental disease. Mild gum inflammation is very common, and home care such as brushing can reverse most mild cases.

Around five months old, many kittens get sore gums while their adult teeth come through. This is normal and usually settles in four to six weeks.

When your vet suggests a dental procedure

The PDSA says the only safe way to treat dental disease in a dog is under general anaesthetic. The work can range from a scale and polish to removing teeth that are loose, infected or broken.

About 60% of a dog's tooth is root, under the gum. Your vet may suggest dental X-rays to see it. It can be hard to know how many teeth need removing until your pet has a full check under anaesthetic. Cats adapt very well to having teeth removed.

For any treatment that is not an emergency, the RCVS says your vet should give you a written estimate first. If the cost is likely to end up much higher, your vet should ask for your consent before going on. It is worth asking how a possible extraction would change the estimate.

If your pet is insured, check whether the policy covers dental treatment. The PDSA notes that some do not.