COVID-19 Policy/Procedures – WE ARE OPEN!

Please click here to see our latest news with the ongoing situation.

alarm-ringing ambulance angle2 archive arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up at-sign baby baby2 bag binoculars book-open book2 bookmark2 bubble calendar-check calendar-empty camera2 cart chart-growth check chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up circle-minus circle city clapboard-play clipboard-empty clipboard-text clock clock2 cloud-download cloud-windy cloud clubs cog cross crown cube youtube diamond4 diamonds drop-crossed drop2 earth ellipsis envelope-open envelope exclamation eye-dropper eye facebook file-empty fire flag2 flare foursquare gift glasses google graph hammer-wrench heart-pulse heart home instagram joystick lamp layers lifebuoy link linkedin list lock magic-wand map-marker map medal-empty menu microscope minus moon mustache-glasses paper-plane paperclip papers pen pencil pie-chart pinterest plus-circle plus power printer pushpin question rain reading receipt recycle reminder sad shield-check smartphone smile soccer spades speed-medium spotlights star-empty star-half star store sun-glasses sun tag telephone thumbs-down thumbs-up tree tumblr twitter tiktok wechat user users wheelchair write yelp youtube

Dental Care…for Pets?

Do our pets need dental care? The answer is yes.

But wait, wild animals don’t get dental care and they seem to have good teeth, right? Actually, wild animal dental health isn’t quite what it seems. While their diets consist of less tooth decay-causing sugar and carbs, they also don’t usually survive serious dental problems. Pets, on the other hand, have humans to keep taking care of them, and we should take care of their teeth too.

Pet Dental Health Problems

Just like human mouths, animal mouths contain bacteria that produces plaque. If it’s allowed to build up, plaque becomes tartar and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. The trouble with pets is that they can’t directly let us know something is wrong with their teeth, and they can’t take care of their own teeth or explain what they feel to a dentist, so it’s easy to miss the signs.

As many as 85% of cats and dogs develop periodontal disease by the time they’re three years old. Symptoms include trouble chewing, loose teeth, and bad breath, but it can also cause more serious symptoms like bleeding or swollen gums, tooth loss, and reduced appetite. Pet owners should be on the watch for these signs so that they can address any problems before they get worse.

Basic Pet Dental Care Tips

As important as it is to keep an eye out for symptoms, it’s better to simply maintain a good pet dental hygiene routine. Prevention is better than a cure, whether we’re talking about human dental health or pet dental health! Here are a few basic things you can do for your furry friend:

  • Brush their teeth daily.
  • Only use veterinary toothpaste (yours will make them sick).
  • Get the vet’s recommendations for dental treats.
  • Have their teeth professionally cleaned. This could be through the regular vet or through a veterinary dental specialist.

Establishing a Brushing Routine

Just as dogs and cats can’t tell us when there’s something wrong with their teeth, they also can’t understand the benefit of brushing them, so sometimes it can be tricky getting them to accept a daily brushing. We recommend brushing when they’re calm, getting down on their level so it’s less intimidating, testing their willingness for brushing by running a finger over their upper gums, and making sure they like the flavor of the veterinary toothpaste.

Healthy Teeth Mean Happier Pets!

There’s nothing better to a pet owner than seeing your pet happy and energetic. A great way we can help them stay that way is by taking care of their teeth. If you’d like to learn more about pet dental care or if you’re struggling to get your pet used to a dental hygiene routine, don’t hesitate to take advantage of resources like the veterinarian or our practice!

We love our patients!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.