We all know how important dental health is for humans, did you know it was equally important for our furry family members? Earlier this week I posted on my instagram story that February was National Pet Dental Health Month. For this blog post I want to shed some light on the importance of this.
I’m sure your dentist has told you that regular cleanings are necessary because bacteria from your mouth can find its way into your heart muscle and create an infection. Well, the same goes for our pets! And, if the infection goes on for too long (and severe enough) it can be fatal.
Some ways in which we can help keep out pets’ mouths clean:
1. Dental chews are a good starting point, just make sure they are VOHC* approved.
2. Letting your dogs chew on raw bones is also an excellent alternative, the chewing action rubs off any build up on their teeth.
3. Brushing pets’ teeth is probably the most effective way to remove any tarter buildup. They even have flavored toothpaste that they’ll enjoy licking off of their teeth!
4. When the plaque buildup becomes too much to take care of at home your vet can provide a professional cleaning. These often require anesthesia as they clean below the gum-line. This makes it less painful for our pets and allows the vets to really clean and see if there’s any other dental issues going on.
The sad part is that most pets will have dental disease by the age of 3. Stinky doggy (or kitty) breath isn’t cute! It’s a sign that something more serious is going on, don’t wait until your dog is 10 years old and needs 12 teeth pulled (true story!) and the damage has already been done.