The Importance of Your Pet’s Dental Health

Dental care for pets is often overlooked. We teach our children about the importance of oral health care, so why do we neglect our pets? Our pets rely on us to keep their mouths clean and healthy. Good dental hygiene is directly tied to overall health and longevity for our pets. As pet parents, we want our pets to have healthy mouths. Here are some reasons why good dental care is so critical to our pet’s overall health:

1. Preventing Tooth Loss: Good pet dental care will ensure the structures supporting a dog and cat’s teeth stay healthy and keep their teeth in place.
2. Preventing Bad Breath: Bad breath will not be a problem when your pet has a healthy mouth and teeth.
3. Preventing Oral Pain: Dental disease can become painful for dogs and cats. Keeping their teeth and gums healthy will prevent any pain.
4. Preventing Organ Damage: Bacteria in plaque buildup can actually enter your pet’s bloodstream and spread to their heart, kidney and liver. This spread of bacteria, called bacteremia, can damage organs and make your pets quite sick.
5. Preventing Worsening Dental Disease: So many pets have dental disease by the time they are three years old. Good dental care can prevent dental disease from becoming severe. It is essential to take preventative measures when your pets are young to avoid dental disease.

Preventative measures against dental disease should begin when your pets are young, but it is never too late to get them accustomed to teeth brushing! Here are some good reminders and tips to ensure the well-being of your furry friend’s oral hygiene:

• Regular exams are important. It is recommended to visit the vet once a year.
  • Check your pet’s breath monthly. Bad breath can indicate gum disease.
  • Dogs can often disguise how much pain they are truly in. Regularly monitor eating and chewing habits to look for signs of oral distress.
  • Check for red, puffy gums and yellow or browning tartar on teeth as signs of concern.
• Supplements and diet play an important role.
  • Dental-specific kibble and dental treats can help reduce plaque and tartar.
  • Daily oral chews can help improve dental health.
  • Look for Veterinary Oral Health Council-approved products.
• Daily brushing is essential in preventing bacteria build-up.
  • Use a pet-specific toothbrush or a soft child toothbrush.
  • Use pet-friendly toothpaste only.
  • Start slow and work up to longer brushing.

Oral care is health care for our furry friends. Feeds’n Needs has a variety of specialty treats, chews and more to help keep your pet’s teeth healthy. Ask our Experts in-store about our favourite oral health care products and what will best suit your pet’s needs!

For more dental health tips for your pets, check out our other blogs:

Dental Health Tips for Your Dog
Dental Health Tips for Your Cat

Source:

5 Reasons Why Dog Dental Care Is Important | PetMD