Page 17 - Chiron Calling Autum 2021/Spring 2022

Is dog breath a thing?
Dental disease in dogs is the number one most reported health issue seen by vets.
An incredible 85% of dogs have signs of dental health issues by the age of three,1 but since our dogs do not have the ability to communicate their discomfort, dental problems are often overlooked.
The truth is bad breath should not be seen as “normal”, very often it is actually the first sign of dental disease. Other signs of dental disease can be clearly seen just by ‘lifting the lip’ and looking into our dog’s mouths every day.
The main causes of dental disease are similar to the reason’s humans develop dental problems. Food and bacteria build-up on the teeth and form plaque, plaque then builds up on the teeth and hardens into brown tartar and this causes bacteria to colonise in these areas and harm the teeth and gums.
Bad breath, gum inflammation, oral pain and tooth loss can then occur and if left untreated can allow bacteria into the body through the blood stream and cause infections elsewhere, potentially causing problems to major organs, such as the heart and kidneys. Therefore, good oral health is important for the
overall health of your dog and it lies entirely in our hands.
EUKANUBA can help as it reduces plaque and tartar build-up, meaning your dogs can chew their way to good oral health.
While most foods and chews rely on mechanical abrasion to remove supragingival plaque (plaque located on the surface of a tooth that is not surrounded by the gum), EUKANUBA includes a special mineral in addition to the mechanical action of the product.
Hexametaphosphate (HMP) is
a nutritional source of phosphate which is applied to the outer surface of the EUKANUBA kibbles of food. The benefit of this is that it is released during chewing and prevents mineralisation of the plaque into tartar. It also helps to reduce tartar on all teeth in the mouth and not just chewing teeth.
In conjunction with daily brushing this special ingredient can help provide maximum protection for healthy teeth. All EUKANUBA dry foods (excluding EUKANUBA Puppy Large Breed) contain this special tooth cleaning mineral helping to reduce tartar build-up by up to 80%.
This is something worth talking
to owners about, as research shows that less than 1/3 of pet owner feed a diet with dental benefit. When
you consider that only 5-10% of the population brush their pet’s teeth the clinically proven benefit found in EUKANUBA will likely be of great interest to the owner and even greater benefit to the dog.
To ensure the good oral health of your dog, we recommend the 3 Ds of Dental Care:
1. Dental Checks: Have regular dental checks with your vet and professional cleaning if necessary
2. Daily Brushing: Apply dental care at home by brushing your dog’s teeth daily
3. Dental Diet: Feed your
dog with a diet that has proven dental benefits, like EUKANUBA
References:
1 Wiggs RB Periodontal disease in age categories of dogs and cats. Proceedings 11th Annual Veterinary Dental Forum, Denver
CO 1997, pp. 143-144; Niemiec BA, Periodontal Disease and Therapy. Scientific proceedings BSAVA Congress 2005:253
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