Attitude towards preventative oral care for periodontal disease in dogs and cats among Finnish veterinarians

Abstract

Periodontal disease is one of the most common pathologies affecting dogs and cats. With a proper dental homecare and regular professional dental cleanings periodontal disease is preventable. Veterinary professionals play an essential role in educating pet owners about the importance of dental health and homecare and how to perform it with their pets. The material was collected by a questionnaire promoted in a Facebook group called Flutteri, a group for veterinarians working in Finland. The questionnaire was composed of questions regarding veterinarians’ opinion on the state of dental health of small animals, their knowledge and attitude towards dental homecare, recommendations to owners, and methods of acquiring information about small animal dentistry. Results show that majority of Finnish veterinarians (99 %) consider tooth brushing to be the best homecare method for prevention of periodontal disease and recommend it to pet owners. 66 % of Finnish veterinarians owning pets brush their own pet’s teeth at some frequency, 15 % brush them daily. Main reason to not brush is lack of time (42 %). Colleague recommendations play a big role among Finnish veterinarians since 91 % of the respondents acquire information about small animal dentistry from their colleagues. Majority (77 %) also use scientific literature as a source of information. The results were compared with similar study performed in Sweden in 2020, and to a study about Finnish owner awareness about small animal dental health performed in 2021.

Periodontaalhaigus on üks levinumaid patoloogiaid koertel ja kassidel. Periodontaalhaigust on võimalik ennetada korrektse koduse suuhoolduse ja regulaarsete professionaalsete veterinaarsete suuhügieeniprotseduuride abil. Loomaarstidel on oluline roll loomaomaniku harimisel lemmiku suuõõne tervise ja koduse suuhoolduse tähtsuse vallas ning koduhoolduse teostamise osas. Uuringu andmete kogumiseks kasutati Soomes töötavate loomaarstide Facebooki rühma Flutterisse postitatud küsitlust. Küsitlus hõlmas loomaarstide hinnangut lemmikloomade suuõõne tervisestaatusele, nende teadmisi ja suhtumist lemmikute suuõõne koduhoolduse osas, omanikele jagatavaid soovitusi ja loomaarstide poolseid väikeloomade stomatoloogia alaste teadmiste hankimise viise. Tulemused näitavad, et enamus Soome loomarstidest (99 %) peab hammaste harjamist parimaks periodontaalhaiguse ennetuse meetodiks ning soovitab seda omanikele. 66 % lemmiklooma omavatest Soome loomaarstidest harjab oma lemmiku hambaid erineva regulaarsusega, 15 % igapäevaselt. Peamiseks mitteharjamise põhjuseks toodi ajapuudust (42 %). Soovitused kolleegidelt omavad Soome loomaarstide hulgas suurt kaalu - 91 % vastanutest hangivad väikeloomade stomatoloogia alast teavet oma kolleegidelt. Enamus (77 %) kasutab teabe allikana ka erialakirjandust. Tulemusi võrreldi sarnase Rootsis 2020. a. läbi viidud uuringu ja 2021.a. Soome lemmikloomaomanike väikeloomade suuõõne tervise alase teadlikkuse uuringu leidudega.