The Importance of Pet Dental Care

Even the most devoted animal owners may not notice that correct oral care is as vital for pets as it is for people. Pets need to maintain excellent teeth for more than eating, grooming, catching a Frisbee or capturing a catnip mouse. In pets, dental disease can be life-endangering. Bacteria from tooth rot and gum illness can enter your pet's bloodstream, leading to infection to the heart, lungs and other bits of the body.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. It is a superb time to take 1 or 2 seconds to think about what you are actually doing to keep your pet's teeth healthy. As with people, it's vital that dental health be addressed in our pets, also. When it comes down to your dog or cat, their across-the-board health and well-being can be impacted by how well their dental cleanliness is handled. There are a few things which can be done to help promote good dental cleanliness in your pet, including:

- Getting them accustomed to having their teeth brushed everyday. Yes, it truly is feasible to get them used to this kind of tooth care, with a little effort and dedication!

- Providing your pet with treats that've been created to help remove tartar from their teeth. These can simply be found in most stores and some can be better in helping to reduce plaque issues.

- Introducing your new pup or kitten to dental care early in life might be one of the most constructive steps you take in the healthiness of your pet. Although cats and dogs don't regularly get cavities, eighty percent of pets that are over 3 years old have a degree of periodontal illness. Periodontal illness, an infection due to plaque, could cause deleterious effects if left untreated. Dog and cat teeth cleaning is a vital step to take early on in life. This alone can aid in avoiding many kinds of issues and sicknesses, as they age.

- The most significant part of keeping your pet's teeth and gums healthy is to have them seen to continually by a vet. A vet may help to keep the teeth shiny clean and catch issues in early stages, so they can be addressed easier and inexpensively.

If your pet drools, has bad breath or inflamed gums, or has loose tooth issues, the best choice is to have a veterinarian inspect them. A few of these can be indicators of oral illness or gum issues. While this month could be a good prompt that we want to consider our pets' dental health, basically looking after their teeth is a year-long job. Doing so will promote a longer, fitter approach to life for your pet.

Dr. Severidt has been a practicing veterinarian 30 years and is the CEO
of Pet Doctors of America in Jacksonville, FL. To learn more about dog
and cat periodontal disease and other pet health issues you can visit
the Pet Doctors of America website.