Maintain Your Pet’s Pearly Whites
The month of February is marked as Pet Dental Health Month. During that time pet health providers emphasize how crucial it is to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy.
Pets require routine dental care to avoid gum disease, tartar accumulation, and foul breath, just like people do. Offering your pet a personalized care according to their needs helps protect them not only against gum and teeth diseases, but also internal diseases that follow.
Why is dental health important for pets?
Dental problems are one of the most common health problems in pets; they affect up to 80% of dogs and cats.
If untreated, dental disease can cause your pet’s discomfort, infection, and eventual loss of teeth. Additionally, it may jeopardize your pet’s overall health as oral bacteria can spread to other organs and cause serious problems.
As showing in the diagram below there are 4 stages of dental diseases.
Symptoms & Prevention Of Pet Dental Disease
Depending on the extent of the ailment, a pet’s dental disease symptoms might change, however frequent indicators to look out for include:
1. Foul breath (halitosis): In pets, persistent foul breath is frequently an indication of dental problems. Unpleasant scents are caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth.
2. Plaque or tartar accumulation: Deposits of tartar and plaque on teeth can be yellow or brown in color.
3. Swollen or red gums: Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, can produce redness, swelling, and soreness.
4. Having trouble chewing or eating: It may be difficult for pets who are in pain or uncomfortable due to infection or inflammation to properly chew their food. They could refuse to chew on hard kibble or show symptoms of discomfort when they do.
It is also possible to prevent dental problems in pets by adopting responsible habits including routine veterinarian check-ups and suitable tooth cleaning methods. Some suggested techniques for properly cleaning teeth are listed below:
Know the right way to clean your pet’s teeth
- Brushing: Some pets may initially be resistant to brushing, despite the fact that it is the most efficient way to keep their teeth clean. Don’t worry about it. Begin by gradually brushing a few teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste designed specifically for pets.
- Dental wipes are a practical solution for routine cleaning since they may effectively remove biofilm from teeth. For the best oral health, use these techniques in your pet’s dental care routine.
- Dental chews and treats: Treats and dental chews are a good idea since they help your pet chew off plaque and tartar. Look for products that have earned the VOHC stamp of approval, which is a testament to their thorough testing and demonstrated efficacy in minimizing the accumulation of plaque and tartar.
- Water additives: These mixes are made to reduce plaque buildup and give your pet’s breath a fresher smell. However, in terms of your pet’s dental health regimen, they shouldn’t take the place of brushing or using dental chews.
- Food Toppers: The way food toppers function is that they are ingested by your pet after being sprinkled on their meal. Saliva effectively softens stubborn tartar that builds up on teeth and gums by releasing natural components found in Plaque Off powder.
- Professional cleanings: Every one to two years, pets’ teeth need to be professionally cleaned under anaesthesia, just like people’s teeth do. Follow up with you vet on when your pet will need cleaning.
Conclusion
Book an appointment with your vet for personalized advice on improving your pet’s dental health. Assimilate the previously mentioned suggestions into your pet’s everyday regimen and note the beneficial outcomes. Supporting their quality of life starts with their dental health.
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