Importance of Routine Pet Dental Care

Most pets manifest signs of dental issues by the time they are three years old. Some pet owners view symptoms like bad breath as something that their animal companion naturally develops. As a result, dental issues are often overlooked and go untreated. But bad breath is, in fact, one of the best and easiest indicators of oral disease.


Sure, you can’t expect a pet’s breath to be fresh all the time. But it should not be so bad that it makes you gag. Many pet parents underestimate the importance of routine pet dental care. Here are some of the reasons why you should never neglect your fur baby’s oral health:

 

Dental Disease Could Be Painful for Your Pet

Pets can hide discomfort easily. Because of this, a lot of pet parents are unaware of the pet’s active dental problems. Many pets, even those with advanced dental disease, will eagerly go about their day as if everything is fine. Others may show signs of oral pain. If your pet often drops food from its mouth, growls while eating, or refuses to eat or drink at all, then it is likely suffering from dental disease.

 

It Can Lead to Other Health Problems

Like in humans, some studies have linked canine gum disease and other dental issues to systemic diseases. These include lung, kidney, liver, and heart diseases, diabetes complications, and even cancer. These severe health conditions can develop or worsen over time by the constant presence of bacteria in the mouth. This is because bacteria can flush into your pet’s bloodstream through bleeding or swollen gum tissue. Fortunately, many of these health concerns improve as soon as the dental disease is resolved. To prevent dental disease, good oral hygiene is essential.

 

Some Pets Don’t Receive Adequate Oral Care at Home

Like most people, your life can get extremely busy at times. That is why it is crucial to take your pet regularly to the veterinarian for professional dental cleaning. Like frequent grooming, and oral hygiene routine is essential to the well-being of your four-legged best friend. Your veterinarian will likely make recommendations on products you can use at home, including oral sprays or rinses, anti-plaque water additives, topical dental wipes, dental rawhide chews, and even dental diets to follow. Just ensure that you choose products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

 

Prevention Is More Cost-Effective Than Treatment

Delaying or neglecting routine pet dental care causes oral bacteria to proliferate. This leads to gum disease, infection, and bone loss around your pet’s teeth. Once these problems occur, your pet may need an advanced procedure to correct them, such as a root canal or tooth extraction. However, when your cat or dog receives thorough dental care regularly, you can avoid these issues from developing in the first place. Besides, you would never want your beloved animal companion to suffer from any oral pain, or worse, systemic disease, which could be fatal.

 

Does your pet’s bad breath persist? Have you noticed stained teeth, bleeding gums, or a tendency to drool? Schedule an oral health evaluation today with our experts at the Animal Hospital of Salinas.

 

To learn more about the importance of pet dental care, contact Animal Hospital of Salinas in Salinas, CA at (831) 346-0600 to make an appointment.