You South Africa – 29 August 2019

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How’s this for an unusual pet!

Magdalena Dusza from Krakow

in Poland is the proud owner

of a giant African snail

Magdalena rescued the majestic snail,

Misiek, six years ago from a pet shop

where he was being held in poor con-

ditions.

“They kept him in a small box with low

humidity, which is deadly for snails. He

also had an invasion of parasites and a

damaged shell.”

Magdalena says she’s dreamt of owning

a giant snail since she was in primary

school. “We had a similar snail in our biol-

ogy classroom as a school pet and I fell

in love with these amazing creatures.”

Misiek, which is Polish for teddy bear,

is easy to look after and eats mostly veg-

gies, fruit and fish flakes.

“Because these animals are so slow

and magnificent, observing them is good

forthenerves.Itkeepsyoucalmand

relaxed.It’sveryrewardingandI’d advise

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works well. There are also pet-specific

toothbrushes on the market that slip

over your finger and are easier to use. It’s

essential to use pet-specific toothpaste

• which is often meat- flavoured. The flu-
  oride in human toothpaste can be dan-
  gerous for animals if absorbed.
  “Dental chew sticks are a great
  add-on to help clean teeth.
  Bones are a big no-no – they
  have no cleaning effect and
  are the leading cause of
  broken teeth.”
  SDo you recommend dry
  or wet food for pets to
  prevent dental problems?
  “In general, dry food is bet-
  ter for dogs and cats. Many
  foods, especially veterinary
  foods, are specially formulated to pre-
  vent dental disease.
  “Soft foods, particularly table food, is
  quite sticky and increases the amount
  of plaque buildup.” S
  EXTRA SOURCE: PETS.WEBMD.COM

I

F YOUR dog’s breath iswhiffy,it might

be a sign that all’s not wellinthedental

department. We spoke to Dr Ingrid de

Wet of Ebervet Country Animal Clinic

in Somerset West in the Western Cape

about the best way to safeguard our

pets’ dental health.

SHow prevalent is dental disease

in cats and dogs?

“It’s extremely common. About two

thirds of dogs and cats over the age of

three have dental disease in some form.

The most common problems are plaque

and tartar buildup on the teeth and

inflammation of the gums [gingivitis].

“We also see many broken teeth and

tooth abscesses. Some dogs and cats

with severe inflammation in their

mouths also develop autoimmune dis-

eases.”

SShould you brush their teeth?

“Ideally yes, and on a regular

basis as it prevents plaque

build-up and decreases the

amount of bacteria in the

mouth, which leads to den-

tal disease. It can some-

times be difficult to do if

your pet is older or isn’t

used to it.

“Some pets won’t tolerate

brushing or can become aggres-

sive. If you’re struggling, your vet can

advise you. We recommend all pets have

an annual checkup during which the vet

examines the teeth and gums.”

SWhat’s the best way to clean their teeth?

“A child-size toothbrush with soft bristles

Just like

humans,

our pets

need their

gnashers

taken care of –

but how do you

go about it?

TEETH!

Dogs with

unchecked gum

inflammation may

be at higher risk

for heart, kidney

and liver

disease.

SYMPTOMS OF

DENTAL PROBLEMS

SBad breath

SRed or bleeding gums

SBloody or ropey saliva

SLoose, dirty or broken teeth

SChange in eating behaviour –

struggling to eat or eating less

SNot wanting their head touched

SSneezing or nasal discharge (advanced

gum disease can destroy nasal bones)

an ail.”

SOURCES: LADBIBLE.COM,

MAGAZINEFEATURES

Misiekwithoneof

Magdalena’sothersnails,

Okruszek(Crumb).