Pawfarer

Health

Dental care

In short

Dental care means looking after a cat's or dog's teeth and gums. Veterinary guidelines describe oral and dental disease as very common in pets.

Key points

  • The US guideline and the international guideline below are separate documents, written for veterinary teams.
  • Whether your own pet has dental disease, and what care it needs, is for a vet to judge. Consult your vet.

What each organisation says

AAHA (US) guidelines (written for vets) state

By three years of age, most dogs and cats have some level of periodontal disease that often goes unnoticed by owners.
Untreated periodontal disease causes oral pain, infection, inflammation, and other health problems…
2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

AAHA (US) guidelines state

All dogs and cats need dental care, and the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats can help the veterinary team navigate the complex and changing world of veterinary dentistry to provide the best possible care to their patients.
2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

WSAVA (international) guidelines state

With oral and dental disease the most common medical conditions affecting companion animals, these Global Guidelines aim to highlight the importance of veterinary dentistry and give advice on best practice to raise standards of dental practice around the world.
WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines

WSAVA (international) dental guidelines page includes a resource titled

Introducing Toothbrushing
WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines

These are general statements from the organisations named above, not advice for your pet. For anything about your own cat or dog, consult your vet.

Sources