Are you taking steps to improve your pet’s dental health? If not, there’s now better time to start than now during National Pet Dental Health Month! Daily teeth brushing is the gold standard for preventing dental disease, but not every pet is tolerant of this – especially cats!
Dental treats are a great alternative. They reduce plaque & tartar build-up on the surfaces of the teeth which then prevents disease below the gum line. While the chewing action is great at keeping teeth clean, it is important not to let you pet chew on anything too hard. This can lead to wear & tear on their teeth and even chipped teeth.
When picking which dental treats to try, the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is a great resource! This group of veterinary dental specialists awards a VOHC Seal of Acceptance for products that meet their standards for preventing dental disease, and a list of approved products can be found here https://vohc.org/accepted-products/. Keep an eye out for this seal on the packaging the next time you are looking for dental treats.
It very possible that your pet will need a dental cleaning, or multiple, during their lifetime, but the use of VOHC-approved dental treats can extend the time between cleanings. It is important to have your pet’s teeth checked at least once a year by your veterinarian so they can make the best recommendations for your pet’s dental health!
-Dr. Chervenka
