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There's been plenty of debate on fluoride and its effect on people in Wichita. Now pet owners are also getting in on the discussion before it goes to a public vote. A veterinarian weighs in on fluoride and its effect on animal health.
“Those that tend to drink a bottled water are going to tend to wonder if city water is safe for their pets also,” says Animal Hospital at Auburn Hills Veterinarian Gary Stamps.
“We don't hear a lot about fluoride with pets because there's not a lot of evidence out there one way or the other for drinking water and pets,” says Stamps.
Just like the debate for humans, there's plenty of argument for and against fluoride. Stamps says his staff uses a fluoride gel following a teeth cleaning.
“We use that here with our pets. It's not harmful. We're comfortable that it's not harmful. Some people feel that it's really beneficial, that it can harden the enamel on the crown of the tooth,” said Stamps.
With inconclusive evidence about water fluoridation for pets, he says common sense is a good rule of thumb. “If it's deemed safe, I think we can assume it's going to be safe for our pets,” said Stamps.