DENTAL CARE FOR DOGS.

Dogs have always had subtle little ways of telling us when something's wrong, but with gum disease it's not that easy. Did you know that 4 out of 5 dogs over the age of three experience gum disease? Despite this, 90% of owners think their dog's teeth and gums are healthy.

Gum disease is caused by bacteria sticking to your dog's teeth forming a sticky layer called dental plaque. If this plaque is not removed it forms tartar, a hard brown coating on the teeth and the gums can become red and swollen.

Checking your dogs teeth for signs of plaque and tartar is highly recommended but isn't always easy, and your vet is best placed to show you how to do this properly. However, there are some tell tale signs you can hold out that could indicate your dog has gum disease, for example bad breath, changes in behaviour, less enthusiasm to play fetch or chew, and a reluctance to let you touch his mouth.

A daily oral care routine can help reduce the build up of plaque and tartar, so why wait? One solution is to get yourself and your dog into good habits early by starting to brush his teeth when he's a puppy. Or, if you have an older dog, you can still get started on an oral care routine - it's not always true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

In addition to tooth brushing, you can also give your dog Pedigree Daily Dentastix to help support his health and wellbeing. These tasty treats have a unique x-shape and special texture, and when fed daily, it is scientifically proven that they help reduce the build up of tartar by up to 80 %, helping to reduce the risk of gum disease. What's more, your dog will enjoy the delicious flavour and look forward to his daily treat. So to help keep your dog's teeth and gums healthy and strong, get into the habit of feeling great tasting Pedigree Daily Dentastix as part of an effective oral care routine.