Dental Health in Companion Animals
Veterinary Oral Health Council
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) authorizes the use of the VOHC registered seal on products proven to help slow plaque and tartar progression on our pet’s teeth. They provide a list for both dogs and cats on products that are VOHC accepted. These products have been shown to decrease the accumulation of plaque and/or tartar by at least 20%.
Links to the lists are attached below:
The Importance of Dental Health
Periodontal disease starts as gingivitis caused by plaque and can progress to cause pain and tooth loss if left untreated. It is ideal to brush your pet’s teeth twice daily or a minimum of three times a week (to help remove plaque and prevent tartar accumulation). Try brushing for about 30 seconds each side. Make sure you are using a pet-safe toothpaste and not human toothpaste. Aside from potentially dangerous ingredients, pet-safe toothpaste is formulated to be appetizing to them, and will encourage them to enjoy the experience of teeth brushing.
Some pets sometimes do not tolerate any sort of brushing, and though this may not be ideal there are still things we can do to help our pet’s oral health. The VOHC has a list of products categorized by special diets, treats, chews, etc and whether they are available at veterinary clinics and/or pet stores (see links above). Each item on the lists have been screened and tested. Even if you are able to brush your pet’s teeth, it can still be vary helpful to add certain VOHC items into your regular routines. The option of possibly delaying the need for a dental or the severity of any dental disease is always a good idea!