Regular dental regimen can prevent major problems

Brushing teeth daily and maintaining good oral hygiene is important, and it is equally vital to look after your pets' teeth and gums.

A friend found out the hard way when he noticed that his cat kept backing away from its food bowl every time it tried to eat. It turns out the cat has periodontitis and has to have all its teeth removed. An expensive exercise.

Periodontitis, a disease of the gum and tissue attaching teeth into sockets of the jaw, is one of the most common dental problems found in pets.

In the early stages, it shows up as redness of the gums, halitosis (bad breath), and tartar buildup, which will appear as a brown, stone-like material.

This progresses to bleeding gums, mouth pain, difficulty eating and eventually the loss of teeth, which either fall out or need to be removed.

'This is essentially a bacteria-related disease that can be prevented by good oral care,' says Gerry Pahl, who specialises in veterinary dentistry for cats, dogs and exotic animals. Dental disease is one of the most widespread ailments affecting pets worldwide, Pahl says, and if it is left untreated, it can also impact the creatures' general well-being and eventually affect the working of their organs. Such a complaint could contribute to kidney and heart disease, and adversely affect the animal's immune system, making it susceptible to a whole range of illnesses, specialists say.

Dental care and oral hygiene for pets is similar to how we care for our own teeth and gums, ranging from brushing teeth to maintaining a good diet.