You would find it strange if a friend or acquaintance never brushed their teeth or went to the dentist… But many people forget that pet dental health is also important! Obviously, your dog or cat won’t be brushing his teeth every night before bed, so the responsibility for their dental care falls on you. Regular preventive care, along with occasional check-ups and treatments when needed, can help to prevent other serious health problems for your pet.
Aside from tooth decay and loss, poor dental health in pets is linked to problems like heart disease and kidney failure. That’s because bacteria in the mouth, when left unchecked, can spread into the bloodstream and to other parts of the body.
The following three steps can help you improve your pet’s dental health.
- Flip up your dog or cat’s lip, and check for tartar on the teeth and bad breath.
- Brush your pet’s teeth at home, following our instructions (ask about this at your next visit).
- Schedule annual appointments with us, for a check-up and tooth cleaning.
These are the primary steps that everyone should follow to promote healthy teeth and gums in their pet. Additionally, remember that diet is just as important for pets, as it is for us! Your cat or dog should be eating a high-quality, nutritious food specific to their species and health needs (ask us for a recommendation). Try to choose a food with as few unnatural “filler” ingredients as possible. Additionally, you might want to try a “dental chew” for your pet, as an extra tooth-cleaning measure.
If you have trouble remembering to schedule your pet’s annual tooth cleaning, use this simple trick: Schedule your pet’s appointment when you plan for your own. Now you’ve taken care of dental care for the whole family, and you can relax knowing that you’ve taken the right steps to preventing dental disease and other serious health problems.
If you have any more questions about your pet’s dental care routine, or regarding symptoms you’ve observed, please call us right away. We’ll be happy to help.