Pet Dental Care

Is Pet Dental Care Really That Important?

When it comes to taking proper care of your pet to ensure that they are healthy and well, many people underestimate the importance of pet dental care. Oral hygiene is important for a variety of different reasons. If you don’t take care of your pet’s teeth and gums, then you may find that they are susceptible to tooth decay, oral disease, and pain. This is why you should make sure that you do what you can to make sure that they have good oral hygiene. According to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, a majority of pets show signs of having oral disease by the time they are three years old.

When plaque builds up on their teeth, it can cause them to have gingivitis, bad breath, and decaying teeth. In many cases, it is because of the type of food they eat. Certain foods are easier to get stuck in their teeth, and it can cause the plaque to build up faster. Feeding them the right kind of food is important.

When plaque and gingivitis affect your pet, you have to really be concerned because it can get into their gums and travel to their blood stream. This can cause them to have some serious health concerns. It can even affect their kidneys, liver and heart if you aren’t careful.

Cleaning Your Pet’s Teeth
Unlike humans, pets don’t have the ability to care for their own teeth. This is why the owners must take their time to clean their teeth thoroughly. It is recommended that you brush your pet’s teeth regularly. When you do this, it can actually get rid of the plaque and eliminate bad breath. You should use a toothbrush and toothpaste that is especially designed for pets such as Virbac Enzymatic Toothpaste or the Petosan Dental Kit. You can’t use human toothpaste, because this can make your pet sick. The good news is that many pet toothpastes are flavored with meat flavors that will make your pet want to have their teeth brushed, which makes it easier on you.

Another useful product is Plaque Off - This is a powder you sprinkle on your pet's food and it actually prevents plaque from sticking to their teeth!

Chewing is Important
While you may not really want your animal to chew on your furniture, shoes and other home goods - you should encourage them to chew on chew toys, bones and other acceptable items. Just remember not to give them something that they could choke on. When they chew, it helps to get the plaque and other particles off of their teeth, and it also helps to strengthen their jaw.

Vet Annual Cleanings
Most veterinarians will recommend that you take your pet in once a year to have their teeth cleaned thoroughly. They will usually put them under some type of sedation to make them comfortable, so you can rest assured that they won’t be in any pain during the procedure. It is much like when people go to the dentist twice a year - the Vet is able to get their teeth much cleaner than you would be able to with a toothbrush.

As you can see, oral health care is definitely something that you will want to keep in mind for your pet. You want them to be as healthy and as happy as they can be, and that means keeping their overall health in check - even their teeth and gums. If you haven’t ever taken your pet to the Vet to have them check out their teeth and gums, then it is time that you do that. You don’t want to put it off until it is too late and has already caused more serious health concerns, because then it may be far too late for you to do anything about it.

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