There are very few studies that address dental disease in puppies.

Veterinary professionals are encouraged to record cases. 

A census has been launched in the UK to record data on puppy dental health, specifically to discover how dental conditions are changing with regard to prevalence.

Set up by veterinary digital services company VisioCare, the Puppy Tooth Census will run from 31 March to the end of June, and the data collected will be shared with researchers and industry experts to advance understanding of puppy dental health. 

Cat Henstridge, small animal veterinary surgeon, television presenter and blogger, said: “I’m very pleased to be helping to raise awareness of the VisioCare Puppy Tooth Census and this important issue. 

“It is so important for all of us in the profession to be helping to identify disease patterns and the scale of the problem. 

“It also provides us with a great opportunity to involve our clients and start discussions about the importance of good dental care.” 

As VisioCare explains, during the COVID pandemic, puppy dental disease may have been under-diagnosed, owing to challenges and limitations in providing veterinary care, and a lack of owner awareness. This possible under-diagnosis could have lifelong consequences for animal's oral health, and more studies are needed to address dental disease in puppies. 

Taking only a few minutes to complete, the census can be completed by veterinary professionals, and every veterinary respondent will be given a free pack of digital materials for client communication, including digital animals and image, explainer videos and puppy owner fact sheets and leaflets. 

Alongside the census, veterinary professionals are invited to a free webinar on puppy dental disease led by Ingrid Tundo, head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery department at the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School. The webinar will take place at 7.30pm on 28 April 2022. 

As an incentive to complete the census, VisioCare is offering a prize draw, and each month for the next three months, all responses will be entered in for the chance to win a £50 John Lewis voucher.