The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic DENTAL CARE RECOMMENDATIONS:

Good teeth and gums are very important to the health of your pet, the average animal lives 2-3 years longer with healthy teeth, than those with gingivitis and tartar. Bad teeth and gingivitis can lead to heart disease, kidney and liver failure, and many other diseases.

1. We recommend starting on Plaque Off. It bonds to tartar, and breaks tartar off the teeth in addition to preventing new tartar from forming. Simply add this powder to ‘s food daily. This product works well for dogs and cats that do not like to chew or are too sick for a dental cleaning.

2. You can also use dental chews, and we recommend CET HEXTRA chews. A recent study in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry noted a 46% reduction in gingivitis with rawhide chews. CET chews have enzymes that help eat the tartar off the teeth. It also has an antibacterial agent (Chlorhexidine gluconate), that acts like a mouth wash. These help to scrape tartar and plaque off the teeth and to reduce bacteria in the mouth. If you purchase chews from a local pet store, please keep in mind that they must be “enzymatic” to be really effective.
*Overall chews are safe and very beneficial to the teeth; however, if you pet swallows them whole they must be discontinued as they can cause a blockage and may require surgery. Other rawhides/chews tend to cause more problems with diarrhea/vomiting as they are cured with formaldehyde. The CET Chews are cured with a bake and press method which make them safer to give to your pet, and easier to digest when swallowed.

3. We also recommend you try brushing ‘s teeth 2 times weekly. You can buy toothpaste and toothbrushes here or at the local pet store. Do not use a human tooth paste as these cannot be swallowed.

4. Greenies can be beneficial to the teeth. Make sure your pet does not swallow them whole as they can cause a blockage and possibly require surgery.

5. Dental cleanings are recommended for pets with tartar and gingivitis, and for pets that will possible require tooth extractions. At The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic we have great discounts on our dental prophys the month of September and February, with discounts of 25% on the cleanings. Most dogs and cats will require a dental cleaning around 7 years of age and every 1-2 years after to keep the teeth in good condition.

Dr William ( Bill ) Langhofer
The Scottsdale Veterinary Clinic
7311 E Thomas Rd
Scottsdale, Az 85251
Open 7 days a week!!.