Brush Up On Your Dog’s Dental Health (NAPSA)}—Manypet owners may be surprised to learn a dog’s dental health is as important to overall wellbeing as a daily gameoffetch. Dental problems in pets go way beyond bad breath. Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in dogs today. At least 80 percent of dogs suffer from it by age 2. Left untreated, dental prob- lems can be very painful and affect the quality of a pet’s life. Small-breed dogs under 20 poundsare at an even greater risk than larger breeds. First, small dogs have small mouths that crowd the teeth, and second, those teeth are excessively large for those small jaws. Fortunately, small breeds don’t need to suffer, says Dr. Daniel Carmichael, veterinary dental specialist with the Veterinary Medical Center in WestIslip, N.Y. He recommends: 1. See your veterinarian for regular dental checkups. Work with your vet to schedule regular professional dental checkups and ask how you can maintain your pet’s dental health. Monitor for bad breath, which can be a sign of a more serious dental problem. 2. Brush those canines. Daily tooth brushing is the best way to remove and prevent plaque buildup. You can try the new state-of-the- art Hartz’ Dental” Electric Toothbrush to make brushing your dog’s teeth easier. It features a vibrating Oral hygiene is especially important in small dogs, advises one veterinary dental specialist. weeks. Use toothpaste made for dogs (beef-flavored paste is appealing to pets) as it’s designed to be swallowed and does not foam up in the mouth. 3. Choose smart snacks for your dog. Chewing rawhide has been proven in clinical studies to help reduce plaque and tartar. Tasty beef and chicken flavors encourage your pooch to chew longer, increas- ing the dental benefits. Another option is Hartz Dental” Nutri-Fresh Chew’ with OdorZap’ crystals to freshen breath, in addition to reducing tartar up to 61 percent. 4, Provide toys with dental benefits. Some newer chew toys have raised tips that help remove plaque and tartar. The Hartz Dental™ Chew” ’n Clean Deli Cuts are one example and comein three brush head and, when used as yummyflavors. These toys provide chewing exercise to strengthen gums andhelp relieve anxiety and boredom. reduce tartar by 85 percent and plaque by 28 percent after three log on to www.hartz.com. directed, is clinically proven to For more information on taking care of your pet’s dental health, Editor’s Note: Sources for this story include: Wiggs RB. Periodontal disease in age categories of dogs and cats. 11th Annual Veterinary Dental Forum; Denver, CO; 1997 pg 143; Hartz data onfile; Lage, A. et al., JAVMA,Vol 197, July 15, 1990.
