Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. of Topeka, Kan., as co-sponsor of the 15th annual Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign, is urging pet owners not to brush off dental home care. The campaign provides veterinary health teams with materials to discuss with pet owners the importance of scheduling regular, professional oral health exams and establishing an at-home dental care routine to maintain their pet’s good oral health. Only 2 percent of dog owners follow through with daily tooth brushing, the company reports. In addition, 66 percent of dogs with Stage 1 periodontal disease often go untreated because veterinary health care teams do not recommend early treatment options such as professional cleaning and X-rays. “It’s a great idea for pet owners to plan an annual visit to their veterinarian to detect any potential health problems,” said Kara Burns, LVT, a veterinary technician specialist at Hill’s. “Preventing and treating periodontal disease through routine veterinary visits and home care protocols are essential aids to ensuring a pet’s high quality of life.” In addition to Hill’s, the campaign is a partnership between the American Veterinary Medical Assn., the American Veterinary Dental Society, the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, the American Veterinary Dental College, the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians and the Veterinary Oral Health Council. <HOME>
