National Pet Dental Health Month is a month-long initiative focused on preventing periodontal disease—the most common, yet treatable, health issue in pets.
Dental health in pets is just one of many components of their overall wellbeing. When pets have dental disease, they can develop painful gum disease and inflammation called gingivitis. Over time this will result in infection, bone loss around the teeth, tooth loss, and systemic health problems including kidney, liver, and heart disease. Some breeds of dogs are more at risk for severe dental disease including small and toy breed dogs such as yorkies and chihuahuas. Dogs that have shorter jaw shapes such as bull dogs, shih tzus and pugs will also typically have more dental issues due to malalignment of their teeth. Cats are also at risk for dental disease so it is important to have their teeth evaluated well at their annual physical exams.
Over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some degree of dental disease by age 3. To minimize this in your pet, preventative care is encouraged. Brushing regularly is the most valuable thing you can do preventatively. You can slowly and gradually introduce brushing to your daily routine. Dental care products such as toothbrushes, toothpastes, dental chews, and toys are available for your pet. A good source for a list of products that are approved by veterinary dentists is available at www.VOHC.org.
What should you watch for? Signs of dental disease include persistent bad breath, yellow/brown tartar buildup, bleeding gums, pawing at the mouth, or changes in eating habits.
If you are concerned that your pet has dental disease, feel free to contact us at Highlands Animal Health, to discuss and schedule a pre dental exam to evaluate the extent of disease and ensure that your pet is a good candidate for a dental procedure.
