Pet Dental Health Awareness (CNW Group/Hill's Pet Nutrition Canada Inc.)

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, March 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Hill's Pet Nutrition Canada launched the 2013 Pet Dental Health Awareness campaign (PDHA) to increase awareness of the connection between oral and overall health.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130312/CG75691)

"Periodontal disease is the most common problem veterinary health care teams see in dogs and cats," says Susan Jones , D.V.M., director of veterinary affairs at Hill's Pet Nutrition Canada . "Pet owners often aren't aware they should be brushing their pets' teeth and when they do know, they quickly realize this is not an easy task. Unfortunately, oral health issues often lead to more systemic health issues and our pets then end up facing more serious problems that could have been prevented."

A key feature of the PDHA 2013 campaign is the Hill's Smile Sweepstakes. Pet owners can visit PetDental.ca to register to win a year's supply of Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Oral Health pet food, which works like a toothbrush to clean pets' teeth as they eat, removing harmful bacteria for better oral and overall health. A total of 17 weekly grand prize winners will be chosen by the end of April. Daily instant win prizes, such as iPads, iPod Touches, Kindle Fires, and $25 gift cards will also be awarded.

While visiting PetDental.ca, pet owners can learn more about how to keep up with their pet's oral health. The campaign's message to pet owners follows a healthy equation for life: daily brushing + regular dental checkups + the right nutrition = long, healthy life. To help reinforce this, the campaign offers pet owners a special kit available through participating local veterinary health care teams. The kit contains a brochure on proper dental care, a pet toothbrush, a human toothbrush, details about the sweepstakes and a guide for brushing pets' teeth.

Veterinary health care teams can also visit the "clinic resources" of the site to download helpful resources such as promotional tools, kids' games that can be utilized in their clinics and a series of light-hearted videos that illustrate the challenges pet owners face when attempting to brush their pets' teeth.

"Prevention of periodontal disease starts before dental disease has developed. If we're going to prevent it, we have to be ahead of the curve," says Fraser Hale, D.V.M., FAVD, DAVDC, practice owner of Hale Veterinary Clinic. "Since there's really no downside to having a good periodontal program in place, we should apply that to all cats and dogs. It's a win-win for the longevity of the pet."

Research has shown a strong link between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Conversely, a strong link has been seen between good oral health and a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease. Brushing a pet's teeth properly each day is considered the gold standard and can help reduce plaque buildup. However, for pet owners who find it difficult to brush their pets teeth regularly, through a veterinarian's recommendation, Hill's Prescription Diet t/d pet food can be added to the pets' daily intake. It works like a toothbrush to fight oral bacteria.

Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Hill's Prescription Diet brand pet foods, therapeutic pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Hill's Science Diet brand pet foods sold through veterinarians and finer pet specialty stores. Founded more than 70 years ago with a unique commitment to pet nutrition and well-being, Hill's is committed to its mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Hill's produces high-quality, great-tasting pet foods owners can trust and give to their canine and feline companions as part of a veterinary health care team recommendation. This ultimately improves patient health and the health of the practice. For more information about Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. and Hill's Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition visit HillsPet.ca and follow us on Twitter at @HillsCanada.

Read more here:
Hill's Pet Nutrition Sets Out to Add More Smiles to Pets' Lives