D ental health is extremely important for the overall
health of your furry family members- going far past just oral hygiene. Think of
all the chewing, licking, and eating your pet does. Is your pet’s dental
health routine enough?
Why should you care about periodontal disease?
By three years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some
form of periodontal disease. Periodontal
disease is an infection caused by plaque bacteria. If left untreated, it can cause serious
illness in your pet. Heart, kidney,
liver and chronic inflammatory diseases have all been attributed periodontal
disease. Other medical problems such as
chronic sneezing (oronasal fistulas), jaw fractures, eye problems, and oral
cancer, can be detected with regular dental cleanings allowing for treatment to
begin.
What can I do at home?
You are probably already familiar with your dog’s mouth and
breath from the daily welcome home kisses. Be on the lookout for any particularly
offensive odor or discoloration of the teeth or gums. Keep your eyes open for any changes in eating
habits, chewing, or salivating. These could
all be signs of dental distress.
“Flip the lip”….If you see calculus along with red, inflamed
gums, it’s time to have the teeth cleaned.
Sniff….If you smell “bad breath”, you can be reasonably certain your
companion has periodontal disease and needs their teeth cleaned.
Be an advocate for your pet and seek
dental care to keep your furry companions healthy and happy!
dental care to keep your furry companions healthy and happy!
Examples of periodontal disease:
Mild gum swelling and inflammation
Some plaque and tarter buildup
Some plaque and tarter buildup
Severe tarter and calculus buildup
Severe gingivitis
Red, swollen, bleeding gums
Red, swollen, bleeding gums
Chronic infection destroying the gums, teeth and bone
Severe tarter and calculus buildup
Severe gingivitis
Severe tarter and calculus buildup
Severe gingivitis
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