Dental disease is very common in our pets; it is hard to spot, and our pets do a good job of hiding their pain and discomfort caused by it. Over time, plaque and tartar build up around their teeth, bacteria will spread and multiply, and bad breath usually follows. Eventually this will lead to dental disease, with sore gums and rotting teeth. To learn more about dental disease in dogs, click here. Or, if you’d like to learn more about dental disease in cats, click here.

Being able to brush your pet’s teeth will help to ensure that they maintain good dental health, keeping them happy and healthy. What’s more, you may also save on vet bills in the long term!

Getting Started

As most pets are unacquainted with toothbrushes and toothpaste, it can be tricky getting them used to having their teeth brushed. To get you off to the best start, you will need;

• Cat toothpaste or dog toothpaste
• A cat toothbrush, or a suitable sized toothbrush for your dog*

• Cat treats or dog treats to praise your pet
• Time and patience!

* Top tip: Adult toothbrushes are suitable for medium to large dogs; children’s toothbrushes are a suitable size for small dogs, and toy/miniature breeds may be best suited to a cat toothbrush!

By following these gradual steps and making the experience positive for your pet, you will have a better chance of success.  Be sure not to rush through the stages, and don’t be afraid to move back a step if your pet is not quite ready!

1. Begin by getting your pet used to being touched around their face and mouth, ideally from a young age. This will make it easier for you and your vet to examine their teeth, and less stressful for your pet. Practice lifting the side of their lip, and praise them for letting you do so.
2. Using a cat or dog toothpaste (human toothpaste can be harmful to pets!), place a small amount on your finger and allow your pet to lick it off and get used to its taste. Gently lift the side of the lip and wipe a tiny amount onto their teeth - remember to praise or give a treat for good behaviour!
3. Introduce the toothbrush to your pet. Start by pressing a small amount of the pet toothpaste into the bristles of the toothbrush. Gently lift the side of your pet’s lip as before, and gently brush the teeth at the side of the mouth. Doing this for a couple of seconds is plenty to begin with.
4. Gradually build up the length of time as your pet gets more used to it, and begin brushing the back and front teeth. You may find a small toothbrush easier to reach the back teeth.

Alternative to brushing

Brushing your pet’s teeth is the most effective way of maintaining good dental health. However, if you have had no success and your pet will absolutely not tolerate it, there are other alternatives to help manage their dental health.

Feeding dry food, particularly a diet formulated to help dental health, will help to scrape plaque from the tooth surface. Consult your vet before switching your pet’s diet to make sure it is suitable for them.

Chews and toys designed for dental health also act by scraping off plaque. Just be careful not to overfeed on the chews or your pet may become overweight!

Dental hygiene powders and gels can be added to your cat or dog’s food are also designed to help reduce bad breath, tartar, and plaque. Ask your local vet or vet nurse which product they would recommend.

Lastly, your vet may recommend a full scale and polish for your pet. This is carried out whilst your pet is under a general anaesthetic. This is the best way to assess your pet’s dental health and rectify any problems such as rotting or broken teeth, and can give you a fresh start to maintain their polished teeth.

Protect My Pet pack members can look forward to a complimentary toothpaste sample in their next health box. Happy brushing!

We all love to pamper our cats. Accessorising our feline friends with a beautiful cat collar can be a lot of fun, particularly as there is so much choice available. However, before you decide whether a collar is right for your cat, or which collar you should choose, it is worth considering the benefits and risks. 

Unlike dogs, there is no legal requirement for cats to wear a collar with their owner's identification.  Microchips are the best way to have your cat carry identifying information. Collars are never a substitute for an identification microchip. 

If you choose to place a collar on your cat always ensure it is a safety collar that will release if your cat were to become entangled. A 'snap closed' mechanism that comes apart and releases under pressure is best. When selecting a collar try pulling the safety catch apart to ensure there is an appropriate fast release.

Collars can get snagged on fences or branches when your cat is adventuring. Safety breakaway collars are designed to prevent your cat from getting trapped or strangulated if this were to happen. Be prepared to lose a few collars if your cat likes to explore, but this is better than the potential hazards.

Never buy a collar with an elastic insert. Elastic has been used in the past to allow cats to escape should their collar get caught.

However, vets have seen horrible injuries caused by cats getting a front leg trapped under these collars. Cats have been trapped like this for weeks, and it can cause deep lacerations to the armpit (axilla) region.

A correctly fitting collar should allow two fingers to slide between the cat's neck and the collar. Too tight and a collar can cause pain, hair loss and damage to the neck. Too loose and a front leg could potentially become trapped. Check the fit of your cat's collar regularly, particularly in growing kittens. 

Wearing a collar does have benefits. A collar signals ownership, a cat with a collar is perhaps less likely to be 'adopted' by a kindly neighbour. Collars can also be helpful to convey messages, a cat on a special veterinary diet may wear a collar asking neighbours 'please don't feed me'. This message worked well on one particularly charming Burmese patient of mine, Bob. Bob had a food allergy and his owner was being very careful to only feed an expensive hypoallergenic diet, then unknown to her he would leap over the fence and feast on a range treats next door. Soon after the collar message Bob's symptoms disappeared and a rather sheepish neighbour came round to apologise.

If your cat is an avid hunter, a collar bell can almost half the number of birds they catch, according to research performed by the RSPB. Bells also reduced the numbers of voles and mice brought home, which is welcome news to cat owners as well as the rodent community.

Finally, dawn and dusk are the most likely times for a cat to be involved in a road traffic accident. A collar with a reflective stripe can improve your cat's visibility to motorists and potentially avoid a collision.

At Protect My Pet we are committed to keeping pets happy and healthy. If you do choose for your cat to wear a collar, just remember the two most important points, that they have a good-quality safety release and that the collar is correctly fitted and frequently checked.

Written by Lindsay Rose MA VetMB CertAVP CertVBM MRCVS

We all enjoy treating our dogs to a new collar, dog collars have become more of an accessory than a functional item to attach a lead. You can find them in every design, material, and colour imaginable, you can even treat your pooch to a collar encrusted in diamonds or created by Louis Vuitton. Regardless of whether your dog's collar is high street or high fashion, it is worth considering the legal requirements and safety aspects of collars.

As a dog owner, you have a legal obligation to ensure your dog wears a collar and tag listing your name and address when in a public place (1). It is also recommended you list your telephone number, but this is not a legal requirement. Wearing a collar is not a substitute for having your dog microchipped. Microchipping has been a compulsory legal requirement since April 2016 (2). These laws are aimed at reducing the time taken to reunite dogs with their owners, should they get lost, which has obvious benefits for both owners and dogs but also reduces costs to the local council for sheltering and feeding stray dogs.

Wearing a collar should be a positive experience for your dog, unfortunately, this has not always been the case. Electronic collars, that deliver an electric shock or noxious substance have been banned in Wales since 2010 (3) and bans have been now been agreed in England and Scotland. Aversive training methods with choke chains or prong collars, that involve causing pain or discomfort when the dog pulls on the lead, have been proven to compromise welfare and are best avoided. There are now a wide variety of tried and tested, more effective, positive reinforcement training methods to choose from.

A flat collar is the most common and practical collar for everyday identification and handling.  When these collars are fitted correctly, you should be able to comfortably slide two fingers between the collar and skin. If the collar is too tight it is likely to cause damage to the skin of the neck, so the collar fit should be checked regularly, particularly in growing puppies. It is better for the skin that these collars are removed when at home. The disadvantage of these collars are that they can be slipped when used with a lead. A frightened or aggressive dog may wriggle out of a flat collar when excited, this can be very stressful for owners.

Harnesses were designed for working dogs, such as Huskies, to pull heavy weights.  If you have a dog that pulls on the lead, a traditional harness will only encourage them to continue them to pull against you. 'No pull' harnesses are available, which attach the lead to the front of the chest, so when the dog pulls his whole body is redirected back to you.  Redirection is also the major benefit of using a head halter, by controlling the direction of the head it is easier to shift your dog's focus back to you if they try to pull. Harnesses and head halters both have the benefit of not placing any pressure through the spine or neck.

There has never been so much choice when selecting a new collar for your pet, not only the endlessly beautiful possibilities, but useful extra features too, such as GPS, activity monitors and potentially life-saving reflective stripes and lights. At Protect My Pet we want to help you make the right choices to keep your pet happy and healthy.

Written by Lindsay Rose MA VetMB CertAVP CertVBM MRCVS

Useful References:

1.  The Control of Dogs Order 1992

2. The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016, The Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015

3. The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) Regulations 2010