Believe it or not, taking care of your cat’s and dog’s teeth is as important as looking after your own. Proper dental care is therefore critical for their overall health.

Saliva, bacteria and food particles combine to form plaque every day. Plaque is the film you feel on your teeth in the morning when you wake up. Within 24 hours the plaque may begin to turn into tartar, a hard yellowish deposit on the teeth. Plaque also causes gingivitis – an infection of the gum - that is the first stage of periodontal disease.

A problem at all ages; 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have periodontal disease by the age of two, but other types of gum disease can occur even earlier. The major cause of gum disease is accumulation of plaque, which contains a high number of bacteria. These bacteria can spread to the lungs, liver, kidney and heart, causing infection there. Periodontal disease is painful, even if your pet may not show it.

Tell-tale signs; your vet will be able to spot any problems during your pet’s annual check-up, but until then, here are some things to look out for:
•    Bad breath
•    Yellow and brown tartar deposits on the teeth – normal teeth should always be white
•    A red line along the gum line (gingivitis)
•    Difficulty eating
•    Bleeding gums

Hills TD helps to maintain oral health.

•    Clinically proven to help reduce the build-up of tartar, plaque and stain.
•    Contains a special fibre matrix with aligned fibres that help the kibble engulf the tooth before it splits. This provides a gentle scraping action that helps reduce the build-up of plaque, tartar and stains.
•    Helps to neutralise free radicals as it contains high level of antioxidants.