Boulder's Natural Animal Hospital cat Minka gets her teeth brushed.
Courtesy photo
Boulder’s Natural Animal Hospital cat Minka gets her teeth brushed.


In recognition of national Pet Dental Health month, here are a few tips to keep your furry friends’ chompers lookimg white and smelling nice:

High quality food


While crunchy kibble in and of itself may not play a major role on keeping dog and cat teeth plaque-free, there are some high-quality kibble that are designed specifically to “scrape” your pet’s teeth as they chew it.

Having said that, a non-crunchy “wet” diet is perfectly fine as long as it is balanced, healthy and of the highest quality.

Chew toys

and dental treats


There are also some fantastic dental-care specific chews and treats on the market. Some of these chews are even imbedded with enzymes that can help keep a dog or cat’s mouth healthy and clean. Ask your veterinarian what chew or treat might be best for your companion.

Water additives

Do you use mouthwash after you brush your teeth? Ever wish you could get your dog or cat to gargle his way to a minty-fresh mouth as well? Well, guess what — you can! Sort of.

Obviously you can’t teach your pet to rinse with Scope but there are some excellent pet-specific water additives that accomplish essentially the same task, killing off the nasty bacteria that grow in your pet’s mouth causing that awful odor. The best of these products, such as Healthy Mouth and Aquadent, are only available through a veterinarian, but most offices carry them. Adding a little of one of these water additives to your furry pal’s water dish every day could go a long way to fighting the bad breath battle.


a pet’s teeth

Just like with your teeth, the very best way to maintain a healthy pet mouth is with tooth brushing. Of course, you’ll have better luck getting your cat to bark like a dog than getting her to brush her own teeth. The task of brushing is going to be yours to tackle.

Fear not. It’s actually not as challenging as you may think. There are countless videos and “How-tos” all over the Internet. In addition, your veterinarian would be more than happy to give you a lesson. For many pets it actually becomes a fun, delicious game and even brushing once or twice a week can make a huge difference.

Incorporate one or two of the above tips into your pet’s life and you’ll be well on your way to a much healthier furry friend. Incorporate all four and who knows, maybe your friends will even welcome a slobbery doggy or kitty kiss when they come over.
