Dental Homecare is recommended for all dogs and cats in order to help prevent periodontal disease. Plaque will begin to form within 3 hours after a professional tooth cleaning, and tartar will re-form within 3 days.


Tooth brushing:

The single most effective way to prevent plaque and tartar build up is daily tooth brushing with a veterinary toothpaste or gel. Ask our veterinary staff about our "Tooth brushing Made Easy" brochure.


Veterinary Oral Health Council:

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) establishes guidelines for testing commercial products for pets. Only products that have received VOHC approval can post their logo on their packages. This can act as an aid when you are choosing dental care products.


Diet:

Dry foods are recommended over canned foods as their mechanical abrasive properties help remove some plaque from the teeth. Some dry diets are formulated to offer better mechanical abrasive properties such as Prescription diet T/D and Medical Dental Formula . Some pets don't chew their food so the mechanical properties will not help clean their teeth. These animals may obtain greater benefits from a diet containing Hexametaphosphate (HMP), a mineral that binds salivary calcium, making it unavailable for tartar formation. Such diets include Medical Dental Formula, all Adult and Senior Eukanuba® and Iams® food. Science Diet Oral Care AdultTM and Friskies Dental DietTM for cats, which are in pet stores, aid in the control of plaque and tartar and have VOHC approval.


Non-Compressed Rawhide Chews:

Non-Compressed Rawhides, such as Friskies Alpo Chew-eezTM ,are effective in helping to remove plaque . They are even more effective if they are coated with the enzymes glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase found on the Vet Solutions® EnzadentTM Oral Care Chews for dogs. These enzymes will combine with oxygen and water in saliva to form an ion called hypothiocyanite which has anti-bacterial activity. This enzymatic combination is also found in the C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste for dogs and cats (Virbac). Also HMP (Hexametaphosphate) is used as a coating in Harper's H.M.P. RawhideTM .


Chew Toys:

Rubber Chew toys (KongTM, GumaboneTM) are useful. Always supervise your pets when provided with chew toys as they may ingest a portion of it, which may lead to gastrointestinal laceration or obstruction.


CHX Oral Cleansing Solution:

This is an oral cleansing solution containing Chlorhexidine Gluconate. This solution may be used in patients that will not allow tooth brushing. CHX Oral Cleansing Solution can be applied directly from the squeeze bottle on the gum line daily. For best results, rub the cheek against the teeth to allow better contact with the product.


Maxiguard Oral Cleansing GelTM:

Maxiguard Oral Cleansing Gel is another antibacterial solution containing Zinc Ascorbate that is applied directly from the squeeze bottle. The cristaline ascorbic acid in the vial attached to the outside of the bottle is added to the gel before it is first used. This solution should be kept refrigerated.


Drinking Water Additive:

BreathaLyser PLUS is a great tasting product containing a specific proteolytic enzyme (Emilgase) & zinc gluconate that is simply added to your pet`s drinking water to help improve your pet`s bad breath.


Dental Homecare Products NOT Recommended:

The list of dental homecare products that are not recommended are endless. The general rule of thumb is to avoid any chew toys or products that are denser than the enamel and dentin of the teeth. These products can cause dental fractures. Avoid all real bones, hard plastic chew toys, nylon bones, and compressed rawhide bones. Cow hooves can cause gingival lacerations due to their sharp edges. Smoked pigs' ears can be a source of Salmonella infection. Waltham's DentaboneTM may become dry and extremely hard causing teeth fractures. Rope toys can cause gingival lacerations and dental fractures when tugged on . Some toys and bones may be ingested and cause gastrointestinal obstructions or lacerations. Soft rubber balls are preferable to tennis balls as the tennis balls act like sand paper and can cause significant dental abrasions

Links:
http://www.vohc.org
http://animalodent.com/page-personnelle.htm (French)