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DOGS
• Puppies develop 28 temporary teeth at two to three weeks of age.
Their 42 permanent teeth emerge at about four months.
• Studies show that, by age 3, 80 percent of dogs exhibit signs
of gum disease.
• Small dog breeds are more likely than large breeds to develop
periodontal disease. Canine dentistry experts believe this is because
the teeth of small dogs often are too large for their mouths, forcing
the teeth closer together.
Home Care Tips
In addition to providing regular dental checks for their pets, pet owners
can take steps at home to ensure good oral health:
• Feed a specially formulated pet food with proven oral health benefits
in daily plaque and tartar control.
• Brush the pet’s teeth with a specially formulated toothpaste
in flavors appealing to dogs.
Toothpaste for humans should not be used because it is not meant to be
swallowed and so can cause upset stomachs for pets.
VOHC Certification
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) was created in 1997 to certify
veterinary dental products that effectively control plaque and calculus
in dogs. For products positioned for different-sized pets, the manufacturer
must submit separate efficacy studies for each size.
Products that have received the VOHC seal of acceptance to date include:
Hill’s Prescription Diet® t/d™ , Science Diet® Oral
Care™ diets, Del Monte Tartar Check® dog biscuits, Friskies®
Cheweez™ beefhide treats, Iams Chunk Dental Defense ® diet (canine),
Eukanuba® Adult Maintenance diet (canine), Hartz® Flavor Infused
Oral Chews (canine), Purina Veterinary Diets® DH Dental Health™
(canine), Purina Veterinary Diets® Dental Chews (canine), Vetradent
Dog Chews (‘Bluechews’ and ‘dc Dental Chews’),
Tartar Shield Soft Rawhide Chews (canine) and Canine Greenies®.
For more information, visit the VOHC Web site at www.vohc.org.
Updated 1/08
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