PDSA has seen a 10% rise in dog dental disease over the past two years, and the charity fears this could continue if pet owners don't take steps to improve their pet's oral hygiene. Approximately one in 12 pets PDSA veterinary staff see undergo dental surgery, making it one of the most common pet ailments.

Sadly, pets with high sugar diets, including some dogs and cats that are fed sweets, biscuits and cream cakes on a daily basis, are regularly treated by PDSA vets for dental disease.

The charity's data suggests that many of our pets are at risk of losing several, if not all, of their teeth if their dental disease isn't identified and treated. PDSA believes the main problem is that owners simply aren't aware of what they can do to help keep their pet's teeth and gums healthy. So, PDSA has produced a leaflet giving detailed advice about pet dental care, as well as dental care PetCasts - video-clips on the website with advice from PDSA vets.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, says:

"We hope that by highlighting how easy it is to take care of your pet's teeth, pet dental health across the UK will improve dramatically. Not only are sugary foods bad for a pet's teeth, but they don't do much for their waistline's either!"

A carefully planned diet is an important way of preventing dental and other health problems such as obesity for all pets. And, just as we brush our teeth, our pet's teeth can also benefit from a daily brush to stop a build-up of plaque. This is important even if they are enjoying a healthy diet.

Plaque is caused by bits of food and bacteria that stick to the teeth.  If this is left on the teeth's surface, the gums can become inflamed very quickly - in as little four to five weeks. This can lead to infection and the loss of otherwise good teeth. In addition, this infection can cause diseases in other parts of the body, such as the kidneys and heart valves. 

Elaine continues: "Looking after and checking your pet's teeth and gums daily is an important part of responsible pet care. Preventing dental problems is much better than trying to cure them."

The tell-tale signs of dental disease:

bad breath
yellow/brown teeth
red or bleeding gums
pain or swelling of the jaw
food falling from the mouth when eating
lack of interest in food
weight loss
face rubbing
excessive salivation and difficulty in swallowing

The dental leaflet is available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and PDSA charity shops nationwide, or by calling freephone 0800 917 2509 and can be downloaded from www.pdsa.org.uk

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