Health&Wellness Magazine April 2015 | Page 31

For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | April 2015
anyone other than your veterinarian
should clean them. People who are
not trained veterinary professionals
generally just scrape off or remove the
large chunks of tartar that they can
reach. This “procedure” may lead to
damage of the tooth surface and does
not address the main problem of dental disease – the tissues surrounding
the teeth. Such “cleanings” may give
you a false sense of security that your
pet’s teeth are being treated when they
really are not.

How can I take care
of my pet’s teeth at
home?

Dental care does not end with a
visit to your veterinarian. Brushing
your pet’s teeth is an important part of
home dental care. Just think how your
teeth would look and how your breath
would smell if you brushed your teeth
once a week or less!
To begin a brushing routine for
your pet, wrap a gauze square or washcloth around your finger and use it like
a toothbrush. Wipe all the teeth, front
and back, with strokes from the gum
line to the tip of the tooth. Afterward,
give your pet a treat as a reward. Do
this once or twice a day for one to two
weeks to familiarize your pet with having his gums and teeth rubbed. It is
helpful to begin this routine with very
young puppies and kittens as part of
their training, even if their teeth look
healthy.
Now you’re ready for a “soft”
toothbrush. The toothbrushes made
for human babies are perfect for this
purpose. Your veterinarian may have
“animal” toothbrushes available; they
are designed with your pet in mind.
If your pet puts up a fuss when
you brush his teeth, try dipping the
toothbrush in warm water and garlic
powder (for dogs) or tuna water (for
cats). Your pet will love the taste and
respond better to the toothbrush.
After your pet accepts the toothbrush, squeeze a small amount of
special dog or cat toothpaste onto

For this reason, all the staff at
Village Animal Hospital have a
common bond: a daily goal to
give our clients and their pets
the most up-to-date and best
possible medical care

the toothbrush. Never use human
toothpaste because it will irritate your
pet’s stomach and cause foaming at the
mouth or vomiting.
Begin by brushing the front teeth,
then brush the large upper and
lower teeth in the back of the mouth.
Position the bristles so that they are at
a forty-five-degree angle to the tooth’s
surface, and move the toothbrush in
an oval direction. Be sure to brush
the crevice where the gums meet the
teeth because this is where odor and
infection begin. Brush your pet’s teeth
at least once every other day – daily
is even better. You cannot overdo this
important step in your pet’s healthcare routine!
©2007, American Animal Hospital
Association. Reprinted with permission
from the American Animal Hospital
Association.

• Wellness Care Plans
• Routine Medical Care
• Vaccinations
• Holistic Care Services
• Ultrasound

Each one of
our staff is
committed
to this goal,
making Village
Animal Hospital
a wonderful
environment to
work in

&

31

Pets can develop dental disease
and other dental problems just like
people do. You can avoid many
of these problems by taking your
pet to your veterinarian for regular
dental checkups and brushing your
pet’s teeth at home.

• Radiology
• In-House Laboratory
• Surgical
• Dental

• House Calls
• Hospice
• Euthanasia
• Other services
also provided

We hope you
will feel this
commitment
from us when
you visit, and
come to trust us
with all of your
pet care needs!