Ladies: I'd like to express my appreciation for all my lovely bouquets of flowers you, my adoring fans sent me for Valentine's Day. Furthermore, a news flash about yours truly; I've had to start back on my Trixsyn medication (joint supplement) again after all my recent activities, including knocking over a few of the flowers I mentioned earlier. I guess it's true, I’m not getting any younger and neither are my joints! I appreciate the Get Well cards and thoughts from everyone!
Although I’m a bit late, better late than never! February is Pet Dental Health Month.
So why exactly is it important to practice good dental hygiene when it comes to your furry family members? According to VeterinaryPartner.com, 85% of pets have dental disease by the time they reach three years of age! Now we all know that an animal’s age is much different than a human’s, but nonetheless, three still seems so young. After all, it still feels like we are just getting past our puppy and kitten stages!
Regular wellness visits are important to your pet’s health, including the teeth! Did you know that your pet can experience complications in other parts of the body as a result of dental disease? It’s true; bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect vital organs (like the liver and kidneys) and can even do damage to the valves of the heart. Another reason why keeping up with the teeth can be imperative to your pet’s health, as well as their comfort.
So how can you spot dental disease in your pet? Here are a few signs to look out for that may indicate your pet needs a dental issue addressed:
1) Change in eating habits- Interest in food but not eating, taking longer than normal to eat, if they appear to favor one side of the mouth when chewing or for pets that get both types, eating the wet food and not the dry. Most animals with dental disease will eat normally, even if their mouths are painful.
2) Noticeable foul odor: People usually notice this when up close to their pet or of course if they are getting slobbered on (silly canines…). Often owners will put off having the teeth checked until it gets to be what they consider to be unbearable, which as I mentioned before can be detrimental to your pet’s health (as well as your pocketbook). Animals can develop abscesses inside the mouth, most of the time caused by a broken tooth. Letting this go is definitely not a good idea and we recommend having your pet seen as soon as possible to avoid the issue becoming worse and also to help control the pain. Just think of how painful it can be when you have a cavity or if you have ever had a broken tooth! Ouch!!
3) You notice your pet’s gums are very red or inflamed. The gums are just as important to keep up with as the teeth.
So, what happens when an animal is treated for periodontal disease? Sometimes they just need a good, thorough cleaning. Other times they need a little extra done depending on the progression of the dental disease or if they need to have a tooth removed.
It doesn’t have to be Pet Dental Health month to care about your pet’s teeth! Below I have added a few links to some good articles about animal periodontal disease. These are located on the website www.veterinarypartner.com, which we consider to be a very reliable and informative source for just about everything pets!
*What to Expect If Your Pet Needs Dental Care: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=168
*Dental Home Care: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=640
Well, I have expelled just about all of the knowledge that I can handle for now. Until next time my friends!
Purrs,
Mason
P.S. To some of the newer GFAH staff members… When it says on the white board that “Mason has been fed”, you should never ever believe that. See, we have this on-going inside joke where they write down that they fed me and then I cry a bunch because it is all lies. Such a cruel, cruel world.
