Pet Dental Health is Vitally Important
Improve Your Pet’s Overall Health with Dental Care
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and we want to share two videos that highlight the most important parts of dental care, at-home care and cleanings:
Pet Dental Care Tips Video
What is a Pet Dental Cleaning Like? Video
Why is Pet Dental Health So Important?
Last National Pet Dental Health Month, we shared that most cats and dogs will develop dental disease by age three or four. The statistics haven’t changed in a year, so we’re still advocating for pet dental health.
Here are two vital reasons to focus on pet dental health:
- Dental disease is painful, and animals instinctually hide their pain. Infections, inflammation or broken teeth cause serious pain. Your pet will likely try to hide the pain, because animals in the wild must hide their weaknesses to stay alive.
- Dental disease affects your pet’s overall health and can shorten an animal’s lifespan. Bacteria from the mouth enters the bloodstream and can infect the heart, liver or kidneys. Over time, this systemic infection leads to possible organ failure.
For a longer, happier life, take care of your cat or dog’s teeth. An annual dental cleaning is the top priority, along with at-home care that includes teeth brushing and dental chews. Your veterinarian may recommend a dental cleaning every six months, if your pet’s teeth and gums are particularly susceptible to disease.
Here’s hoping that, with some education, we can help improve outcomes! Next year, we hope to find that cats and dogs aren’t suffering from dental disease at such a young age on average.