More than 400 pet owners took part in our on-line survey. Commenting on everything from the cat’s top spot in the house to Fido’s favourite foods, here’s what you said.

• 21 % have never taken their pet to a vet for dental check
• 33 % have noticed their pet has bad breath
• 22 % feed cooked bones

Pets are by nature, extremely stoic – they hide their pain in an effort to not reveal weakness. In the wild, this is a great survival tactic. But for us at home it can mean disease can linger and cause pain without being noticed. The great thing about pet owners is that once they understand something is wrong, they will usually act. Of the 21% that said they had never taken their pet for a dental check, most would do so once they understood how important it was for their pet’s health and happiness.

What the vet says:
“Dental disease is a very common disease seen in vet practice. 80% of pets over the age of 2 years have some form of dental disease. An unhealthy mouth can lead to poor health elsewhere in the body including heart or kidney disease. Dental disease is also very painful and can lead to a pet that has trouble eating and loses weight.

Bad breath is a common sign of dental disease but it is not the only indicator. Watch out for:

• Loss of appetite
• Drooling
• Reddened gums-gingivitis
• Tartar build up leading to a yellowing of the teeth

Your vet will check your pet’s teeth as part of a health check and may recommend your pet have a clean under an anaesthetic. In some cases, diseased teeth may need to be removed.

There are some excellent diets available to help clean the teeth and brushing of your pet’s teeth is recommended. Never use human toothpaste on animals and always speak to your vet first.

It is scary to think that nearly 1 in 4 people feed cooked bones to their pet. Cooked bones are a big no no and can be very dangerous. They splinter easily and can become wedged in your pet’s mouth or worse still, become stuck somewhere in the gastro-intestinal system. This often results in the need for exploratory surgery. Be aware that while bones are great for cleaning your pet’s teeth they should always be fed with caution. Raw bones are the way to go.

What you said:
“I have always wanted a dog like the one I have now so I will do what I can to look after her and love her.”

“I feel responsibility for them because they are domestic animals and unable to fend for themselves.”

View more results from our Pet Survey

Up close and personal
Pets as family
Best friend in a crisis
The guilt factor

Your say: What's your secret pet-health tip? Tell us below.