PDSA reveals scale of UK doggy dental problems

Millions of UK dogs could be suffering dental pain and losing their teeth unnecessarily due to poor diets and lack of routine dental care. Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has reported a worrying rise in dental disease among dogs examined over the last two years.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Sean Wensley, says: “It’s wrong to assume that pets will lose their teeth as they get older. In reality, with a good diet and oral hygiene, there is no reason why their teeth shouldn’t last a lifetime.”

National dog dental stats
PDSA health checks* of more than 13,000 dogs across the UK in 2007 and 2009, show a worrying 5% rise in the number of dogs suffering from dental disease, with the figure now standing at 24%. When this figure is applied to the entire UK dog population (8.3 million**) it means nearly 2 million dogs could be suffering from dental disease.

PDSA’s data, which has been gathered by PDSA offering free health checks to dog owners nationwide via its three PetCheck vehicles, reveals that the UK’s current worst canine cavity hotspots are Northern Ireland and Wales which jointly top the table with one in three dogs (30%) suffering from dental disease. Northern Ireland also saw the largest overall rise with doubling of dental problems in two years (15% to 30%).

There is some good news though; dog owners in London and Scotland have obviously been brushing up on their dental skills. London saw a 7% decrease in dog dental disease (30% in 2007 to 23% in 2009) and Scotland has scaled down the problem by 6% (21% in 2007 to 15% in 2009).

Pets with dental disease can develop painful tooth decay and risk losing some, if not all, of their teeth. Dental disease can also trigger health problems in other parts of the body, such as the kidneys and heart valves.

Cats don’t fare much better either. In 2009, PDSA vets carried out nearly 8,000 dental procedures in cats – that means a staggering 8% of cats seen by the charity needed some form of dental surgery.

A poor diet, high in sugary treats, is a major factor in the onset of dental disease. Owners have admitted*** feeding their pets inappropriate, sugary treats including sweet tea, biscuits, cereal, peanut butter and chocolate intended for humans (which can be poisonous to pets) on top of their recommended pet food. As well as being bad for their waistlines, this food, if left on the surface, develops into plaque.

Sean Wensley adds: “Plaque is caused by a mix of food, bacteria and saliva that sticks to the teeth. If this is left on the surface, the gums can become inflamed very quickly - in as little as four to five weeks. This can lead to infection, tooth decay and the loss of otherwise good teeth.

“Toothbrushing is the most effective way of preventing dental disease and getting young pets used to a daily brushing routine can help make it a stress-free process throughout their lives.”

PDSA would always encourage dog and cat owners to clean their pet’s teeth daily. However, it’s not always possible, as some pets can find the process quite stressful and are far from willing to let their owner clean their teeth. Owners’ shouldn’t despair though, as specially formulated dental chews and dental diets are available to help. The greatest benefits are achieved when these products are used alongside daily brushing.

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

Pet owners can access free pet health information on a range of topics, including pet dental care, on PDSA’s website. To watch the charity’s pet heath videos or download free pet care leaflets on topics such as dental care, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pethealth.

PDSA’s canine cavity league table
 

09/06/2010