Pet Oral Health Campaign Launched After Alarming Survey Results Revealed
A campaign to raise the awareness of pet oral health has been launched following the release of alarming statistics relating to gum disease in dogs.
A survey published in the Veterinary Journal revealed that 80 percent of dogs in Europe and Australia suffer from gum disease, which can contribute to a host of conditions, including kidney and liver failure and heart problems.
In response to the survey findings in the journal, representatives from Dentastix decided to conduct a similar poll in New Zealand the results were very similar; as a result, vets from across the country have joined forces to support Dentastix’s Doggie Dental Month campaign. More than 200 vets signed up to support the campaign, which will enable pet owners to bring their dogs in for a free dental check throughout the month of July.
The Dentastix survey revealed that 61 percent of dog owners in New Zealand do not brush their dog’s teeth and 55 percent had no idea that they needed to clean their dog’s teeth.
Doggie Dental Month is designed to raise awareness of pet oral health and encourage owners to make the most of the free dental checks available at participating vet surgeries across the country.
Dr Alex Melrose, a vet from Auckland, said that many dog owners ignore oral health and this is why rates of decay and gum disease are so high. He added that he hopes owners will take the chance to get their dog’s teeth checked for free and then continue to keep an eye on their pet’s oral health in the future.
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