With National Pet Dental Health Month happening over in America in February, we thought that it was about time that the people of the UK, and especially Vetpharmacy customers, were made aware of how important the issue of dental hygiene is for pets.


Many of the dog owners out there will be aware of dog breath and feel that it is just a natural part of owning a dog that they need to put up with. However, bad breath could be a sign that your dog has poor dental health. Other signs to look for that could indicate poor dental health are: bleeding/swollen gums; loose/missing teeth; and yellow/brown tartar build up. Once your dog has reached this stage they are likely to need to visit the vet to have their teeth properly cleaned under anaesthetic, which is likely to be extremely costly. A good home dental care plan could solve this.


You should ideally brush your dog’s teeth every day, but it should at least be done every 2-3 days to stop plaque from building up and creating tartar, which can cause gum disease. Vetpharmacy has a range of products available to aid you with the task of brushing your dog’s teeth. First of all, you need to make sure that you use a toothpaste that is designed specifically for dogs, such as Petosan Toothpaste for Dogs, as human toothpaste has ingredients in it that are harmful to dogs. Dog toothpaste also tends to come in a variety of flavours, such as poultry or beef, that your dog is likely to find a lot more palatable. This is especially useful as your dog won’t be spitting out the toothpaste you use, so they will have to swallow it.


Once you have selected suitable toothpaste for your dog, you will need to get a good dog toothbrush. The Petosan range includes both a regular dog toothbrush and a battery powered option, both of which are double headed. The double toothbrush heads provide simultaneous cleaning of both the inside and outside of the dog’s teeth, as well as allowing for easy cleaning of different lengths of teeth. The two toothbrush heads are also angled at the optimum 45 degrees, to effectively clean between the gum line and teeth. The Petosan Silent Power Toothbrush for Dogs offers extra cleaning power, as its bristles move 20,000 times per minute.


Although regular dental checkups with a vet are still important for your dog, making sure that you keep their teeth as clean and healthy as possible at home, should help to eliminate your dog’s bad breath and reduce the risk of your dog getting periodontal disease.