Caring for your pet, Cats, Dogs, Healthy Check Ups
Pet dental health: 5 Common Pet Dental Things to Watch Out For
Feb
February is pet dental month and we want you to be informed. The importance of pet dental health cannot be stressed enough when it comes to the overall health of your canine friend. According to vets, 85% of pets over 4 years experience gum disease as well as loose, cracked and crooked teeth. Yikes!
Here are 5 common pet dental things to watch out for.
Retained baby teeth, worn out or Loose teeth
Did you know that full grown dogs have 42 teeth? Cats have 30! Your pets are tough on their teeth. Loose teeth for puppies may not be a problem as they have to fall out, just like humans, but if this is the case with your adult dog, it’s time for an office visit. A loose tooth may not correct itself and in some cases, it can lead to infection, swollen gums and more. As your pet ages, their teeth can wear down, making it harder to eat.
Plaque and tartar
Like humans, pets get plaque and tartar build up too. Since they can’t brush their teeth or floss on their own, it’s up to use to help them. Similar to humans, tartar and plaque begins to build up, affecting both the teeth as well as the surrounding tissue. To know if your pet suffers from plaque and tartar, check for brown-colored deposits on the teeth.
Periodontal disease
4 out of 5 dogs is affected by oral neglect. Does your dog leave blood spots after enjoying vigorous playtime? Watch for bleeding and swollen gums as may be a symptom of this disease. Setting up routine teeth cleaning can help with this.
Cracked or broken tooth
A slab fracture is one of the most common forms of broken tooth discovered in dogs. This can occur when your pet bits down a hard object forcibly, which causes sections of the teeth to flake off. It can be very painful and need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Remember that your pet has a high threshold for pain, so make sure to check regularly for this.
Toothache/Tooth root abscess
This can be one of the most agonizing oral diseases your furry friend may experience and occurs when the tooth’s root gets exposed to bacteria. Bacteria exists in our mouths and theirs, but an if infections get into the bloodstream, it can start to affect your pet’s organs.
