Pete the vet With Pete Wedderburn

YESTERDAY, I carried out a routine check of the mouth of an eight-year-old terrier. As you can see from the picture, there were a few problems. Dark-brown tartar had accumulated at the base of the teeth. The gums had receded and had become red and swollen. The owners had wondered why the dog had bad breath, but they had not felt confident enough to look in its mouth themselves. These changes are very common in adult dogs, but most owners are not aware of what is happening. For their pets' sake, owners should try to get into the habit of checking their pets' mouths from time to time. It is best to start with young animals, so that they are gently trained to accept the examination as normal. Simply place one hand on top of your pet's muzzle, and one hand beneath. Use your fingers to draw back the lips, and the teeth will be exposed. You can then open the animal's mouth and check the rest of the teeth. If you do this a couple of times a week, your pet will soon learn to accept the process. You should also ask your vet to examine your pet's teeth once a year. This can be done at no extra cost when you visit the vet for other reasons. Your vet will be able to let you know about the current state of your pet's teeth. When a dog, like this terrier, has developed advanced dental disease, professional treatment by the vet is needed, under general anaesthetic. This could have been prevented if the dog's owner had brushed the dog's teeth from an early age. In theory, to achieve perfect dental care for pets, you should give them the same type of dental attention that you give yourself. Their teeth should be brushed once or twice a day. The practical reality is that we are all living busy lives, and many people find it difficult to find time to ensure that all of the children in the house are brushing their teeth, never mind the pets.  There is a myth that animal teeth are self-cleaning, but this is not true. Studies show that animals only use certain parts of their teeth to chew, and so most of the teeth remain untouched. It has been estimated that using bones, chews and dry biscuits does help a bit, but it may only achieve around ten per cent of the positive effect of brushing the teeth. If a pet's teeth were brushed three or four times a week, this would have a dramatic effect on the appearance and health of their teeth as they grow older. Brushing the teeth can be done in less than two minutes, which is no longer than you might spend opening a tin can. Why not start feeding your pet dry pet food, and brushing your pet's teeth? You would not lose any precious time, and your pet would have a healthier mouth. You can use any toothbrush, although special brushes with angled heads and long handles are available. You must use special pet toothpaste, available from pet shops and vets, don't try the mint-flavoured toothpaste you use because it tastes like a hot curry to a dog! Animals need to be trained to accept their teeth being brushed. Ideally, you should start with young animals, encouraging them gradually to get used to you giving attention to their mouths and teeth. If you have a cat, rabbit or guinea pig, you may not need to brush their teeth, but you should still make a point of inspecting their mouths regularly. A healthy mouth is important, whatever the species of animal.