Maintaining good dental health is vital to the overall well being of your pet. Every animal, from the young puppy to the geriatric cat deserves the best dental care you can provide. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral disease by the age of 3. It is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets, and left untreated, the bacteria and plaque accumulation leads to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay is irreversible periodontal disease and eventually to tooth loss.
Your Pet’s teeth will be evaluated at the time of his or her annual physical examination. If you notice any changes or problems with our pet’s mouth or teeth in between these examinations, please call us to see what should be done. Signs to look for include bad breath, tartar build up, red and or swollen gums, changes in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and sometimes generalized depression. Broken teeth which develop lesions are very painful for your pet, although they will not always demonstrate signs of being in pain.
There are other reasons why you should pay close attention to your pet’s dental health. Dental disease can affect other organs in the body. Bacteria in the mouth can get into the blood stream and may cause serious kidney infections, liver disease, lung disease and heart valve disease. Oral disease can also indicate that another disease process is occurring elsewhere in a pet’s body. A thorough physical examination combined with appropriate laboratory tests can determine if this is the case.
There are many products available to help your pet maintain good oral hygiene. We have special food, brushes, toothpaste, chews etc. available for your pet. Please feel free to discuss your pet’s dental health with us!
