When we get a toothache, we can call our dentist and get it quickly fixed. But pets tend to hide their pain. So, when their teeth hurt, they cannot tell us about it; therefore, they can suffer for a long time from dental disease. So, early detection and treatment are critical for pet dental health because advanced periodontal disease can cause severe medical problems and pain for your pet. It is essential to have your pet’s teeth checked regularly.
5 Reasons for Proper Pet Dental Care
- By age two, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some periodontal disease!
- Pets that don’t get dental care can painfully lose their teeth. Also, as their teeth decay, they can experience significant pain, which may affect their behavior.
- When pets don’t receive regular dental exams, dental problems may develop, and we must pull their teeth. Early detection can prevent this.
- Animals need their teeth to chew their food correctly. It is the first stage of digestion. But their teeth wear out as they age, affecting their ability to chew their food.
- Excessive wear of pet teeth can cause tooth decay.
- Dental infections can lead to severe problems with your pet’s organs. The bacteria in the oral cavity of a pet with periodontal disease can travel into the circulatory system. From there, it can travel throughout the pet’s body and can cause damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Signs of Pet Dental Problems
- bad breath
- broken or loose teeth
- extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- teeth are discolored
- abnormal chewing, drooling or dropping food from the mouth
- reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- pain in or around the mouth
- bleeding from the mouth
- swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth
Test Yourself
Now see how much you know about pet dental health. Take this quiz.
Schedule Your Pet’s Dental Visit
We provide a full range of veterinary dental services. We are equipped with digital dental x-rays and a modern dental unit with an ultrasonic scaler. All our dental procedures include dental x-rays to allow our doctors to see where most periodontal disease is present – below the gum line.
If it has been more than a year since your pet’s last dental exam and cleaning, or they have never had one, we urge you contact us now and schedule. We will also be happy to show you at your pet’s next visit how to brush your pet’s teeth.
Sincerely,
Friendly Team at
Fox Run Animal Hospital
