Dental health is an important factor in our pet’s longevity. In our care of dogs and cats it has become routine to provide dental cleanings on an annual or biannual basis.
Our clients respond differently when told their pets need dental care—some are amused, some don’t believe it and some take it to heart and take action to correct and reverse the state of their pet’s dental health.
Pets actually have a higher incidence of dental disease than humans. 85% of all pets over the age of two have some form of dental disease.
Periodontal disease is a progressive, gradual destruction of the gums and bones of the jaw caused by bacterial infection. This dental disease can be life threatening because dangerous bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause problems in your pet’s internal organs, especially the liver, the kidneys and the heart.. The fact is that dental disease can significantly shorten the lifespan of your pet. Dental disease can also cause pain and discomfort as well as foul odors from the mouth that are offensive to human noses.
If your pet has bad breath, periodontal disease may be the cause. Any build up of yellowish or brownish material on the teeth is calculus, tartar or plaque—all signs of periodontal disease which should be checked by one of our doctors. Most likely we will schedule a routine dental cleaning and polishing under general anesthesia. Sometimes loose teeth are encountered and need to be extracted.
Your pet may require fewer cleanings and enjoy good breath with daily brushing using toothpaste and toothbrush specifically for pets. Our clinic also offers dental rinses, water additives and chews that help lessen the buildup of tartar on your pet’s teeth. Virbac is a great resource of information for pet dental health.
Below you can see the before and after pictures:
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