Dental Facts: Oral Health for Life
By Katie Meneses, HR Manager
Dental health is important to maintain for humans, but it is just as important for your pets! February Pet Dental Health Month, and it’s for good reason! Dental health directly impacts our pets health and quality of life. Here are just a few dental facts about dental health in our furry companions.
Dental Fact #1 – Dental Disease Causes Chronic Pain in Pets
Dental disease can start very early in your pets life. By age three, most cats and dogs have dental disease to some degree. This illness causes significant levels of inflammation and diseased teeth, meaning your pet is experiencing significant, chronic, life-changing pain. Animals are great at hiding their pain, so you may not even notice it until your veterinarian gives you a diagnosis. Common signs of dental disease includes bad breath, yellow tartar buildup on the teeth, and red, swollen gums. Many pet owners see a “whole new pet” after a dental procedure to treat this disease.
Dental Fact #2 – Homecare is Essential
Brushing your cat or dog’s teeth daily is important to promote good oral health and prevent expensive surgeries later on. There are plenty of tasty pet toothpaste flavors to make it easier to brush your pets teeth too, including flavors like beef, chicken, fish, and even peanut butter! You can also use pet foods specially designed to be dental diets, helping to preserve oral health.
Dental Fact # 3 – X-rays Help with Diagnosis
Sometimes, your pets dental concerns aren’t visible just by examining their teeth. That is why your veterinarian will recommend X-rays. X-rays allow us to see below the gumline of the teeth, all the way to the root of the teeth. This allows us to see exactly what is causing a problem for your pet, and could even help identify problems that weren’t visible by the naked eye alone.
Dental Fact #4 – Dental Illness Can Lead to Other Health Problems
Dental health is important, not just for your pets oral health, but for their entire body. Bacteria from dental disease can get into the bloodstream, affecting organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys. This bacteria is commonly associated with heart disease in dogs. It can also cause infections in the liver and kidneys, leading to fever, weight loss, and decreased appetite, making your pack sicker still.
Overall, ZimmVet knows how important dental health is to your pet’s overall health. That is why we offers the Oral Health for Life Program, which offers a 10% discount on dental cleanings within 18-months of your last dental cleaning with us. Talk to our staff to learn more, or go here to read up about dental health on our website.
For more dental facts, you can also visit the American Animal Hospital Association fact-page!
Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.
