Beat doggy breath with daily brush

Brush your dog's teeth every day and get a dentist to check them every six months if you want your pet to avoid foul breath, a veterinarian says.

Dr Michael Hardcastle of Massey University said 98 per cent of pet owners were failing to meet basic health care needs of pets by not brushing their teeth daily. Tartar quickly built up on dogs' teeth and was a major cause of pain and discomfort, he said.

"Every pet owner should do what they can to prevent this problem. The ideal way to maintain canine oral health is a daily cleaning routine."

A survey by Dentastix, which markets dog dental health products, showed more than a third of dog owners were critical of their pet's oral hygiene, yet 61 per cent did not brush their dog's teeth at all, 55 per cent did not realise they needed to, and 15 per cent said their dog didn't like it.

Seven per cent said they didn't know how to brush their dog's teeth, while 4 per cent said it was too dangerous.

"Adult dogs should have a dental check every six months - the same as recommended for people," said Dr Hardcastle.

The most regular dental care for dogs was biscuits, followed by dog chews and animal bones.

- NZPA