Periodontal disease remains one of the dog’s most common health issues, even though it is largely preventable by tooth brushing. Implementation of daily tooth brushing would not only improve animal welfare, but also reduce veterinary costs for the owner. There is a paucity of studies investigating attitudes, opinions and practices of dog owners, veterinarians, and veterinary nurses regarding preventative dental home care in dogs. The objective of this study was to investigate these parameters in Sweden, thereby providing a basis for improved prophylactic strategies. Validated questionnaire surveys were distributed to all Swedish dog owners (n = 209,263), veterinarians (n = 3657) and veterinary nurses (n = 1650) with e-mail addresses in the national registry. The response rates were 32% for dog owners and veterinarians, and 38% for veterinary nurses. The survey questions concerned attitudes, opinions and practices regarding dental home care, including whether dog owners received information concerning dental home care or not, and if this information resulted in implementation. Attitudes, opinions and practices regarding dental home care are presented for Swedish dog owners, veterinarians, and veterinary nurses. A fundamental finding was that the absolute majority of Swedish dog owners do not perform adequate prophylactic dental home care. Considerable discrepancies were identified in the opinions of veterinary health practitioners and dog owners regarding attitudes towards dental home care and conveying of information. Several areas for improvement in the communication between dog owners and veterinary health practitioners concerning dental home care were identified. Our results illustrates the need for validated methods to increase dog owner compliance with dental home care recommendations. We also see a need of further education, regarding canine dental home care, among veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and dog owners. The results from this unique study constitute an important foundation for future development of prophylactic strategies, with the ultimate goal to improve dental health, and thereby animal welfare, in dogs.

中文翻译：

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狗的牙齿家庭护理-瑞典狗主人，兽医和兽医护士进行的问卷调查

牙周疾病仍然是狗最常见的健康问题之一，尽管可以通过刷牙来预防。每天刷牙不仅可以改善动物福利，还可以减少主人的兽医费用。很少有研究调查犬主人，兽医和兽医护士对狗的预防性牙齿家庭护理的态度，观点和做法。这项研究的目的是调查瑞典的这些参数，从而为改善预防策略提供基础。经过验证的问卷调查表已分发给所有瑞典养狗人（n = 209,263），兽医（n = 3657）和兽医（n = 1650），并在国家注册表中提供了电子邮件地址。狗主人和兽医的回应率为32％，兽医护士占38％。该调查质疑有关牙科家庭护理的态度，观点和做法，包括狗主人是否收到有关牙科家庭护理的信息，以及该信息是否得到实施。向瑞典犬主，兽医和兽医护士介绍了有关牙科家庭护理的态度，观点和做法。一个基本的发现是，绝大部分瑞典狗主人没有进行足够的预防性牙齿家庭护理。兽医保健从业人员和狗主人对牙齿家庭护理和信息传递的态度之间存在明显差异。确定了在犬主与兽医保健从业者之间有关牙齿家庭护理的交流方面有几个改进的领域。我们的结果表明，需要经过验证的方法来提高犬主对牙科家庭护理建议的依从性。我们还看到有必要在兽医，兽医护士和狗主之间进行有关犬牙家庭护理的进一步教育。这项独特研究的结果为预防策略的未来发展奠定了重要基础，其最终目标是改善狗的牙齿健康，从而改善动物的福利。兽医和狗的主人。这项独特研究的结果为预防策略的未来发展奠定了重要基础，其最终目标是改善狗的牙齿健康，从而改善动物的福利。兽医和狗的主人。这项独特研究的结果为预防策略的未来发展奠定了重要基础，其最终目标是改善狗的牙齿健康，从而改善动物福利。