Dental Health for Your Pets
For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember. Just like you, your pet needs dental care, too – regular, professional care from your veterinarian and home care from you to keep plaque removed. Daily brushing and feeding special pet foods can help.
Dental disease is the #1 disease problem in cats and dogs! Although cats and smaller dogs have the highest incidence of periodontal disease, 95% of all dogs and cats will have dental disease in their lifetime, many more than once!
Causes of Periodontal Disease
As enough plaque builds up, the bacteria cause infection of the gums known as GINGIVITIS; this is often seen as a red line along the teeth. If enough time passes, plaque hardens to form TARTAR, which in a way holds the infection to the tooth surface and helps push bacteria and debris under the gum line. PERIODONTAL DISEASE is this deeper infection of the teeth and tooth roots, which ultimately results in the loss of the infected teeth. Preventive oral care can reduce the formation of plaque and help maintain proper oral health throughout your pet’s life.
Signs of Periodontal Disease
All pets are at risk for developing dental problems. Once your pet displays any of the warning signs below, serious periodontal disease may be present. Don’t wait for these signs. Start a preventative program of veterinarian-supervised dental care today
- Bad Breath
- Yellow-brown crust on teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Going to the food bowl, but not eating
- Change of chewing or eating habits
- Tooth loss
- Subdued behaviour
- Abnormal drooling
- Dropping food out of the mouth
- Swalling food whole
For more information on Dental Disease Stages clinic the link below:
Contributing Factors
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Ignoring the condition of your pet’s mouth can lead to periodontal disease, tooth loss and other serious health problems, such as heart, liver and kidney failure
- Breed: Periodontal disease is more common in smaller breeds of dogs and certain breeds of cats.
- Age: Periodontal disease is more common as pets grow older
Oral Health for Overall Health
Proper oral care isn’t just good for the mouth – it’s good for the whole body, too. Poor dental health, on the other hand, can put your pet at risk for heart disease, kidney disease or even diabetes. Here’s how:
- Plaque builds up on a pet’s teeth
- Bacteria in the plaque irritate the pet’s gums
- The irritated gums bleed, allowing bacteria from the plaque to enter the bloodstream
- Bacteria in the bloodstream travel throughout the body, and can negatively impact the heart, liver and kidneys
Emerging science suggests a strong link between good oral health and reduced risk of heart, liver and kidney disease.
Pets with poorly maintained teeth and gums also run the risk of experiencing several other serious health problems:
- Painful dental infections
- Tooth loss
- A taxed immune system, which limits a pet’s ability to fight disease and infection
To prevent any of these problems in your pet, make sure to provide good dental hygiene. Talk to your veterinarian for more information
Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Oral Health
Tips on Brushing your Pet’s Teeth
