Importance of keeping your Pet’s Teeth Clean
There is a direct link between keeping your pet’s teeth clean and their quality of life. Dental diseases are the most commonly diagnosed health problems in dogs and cats. Signs of dental disease in pets are: depression, hiding, not eating, and becoming aggressive. By age 3, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease.
Home dental care is a very important part of providing the best possible care for your pet. There is flavored toothpaste for pets that you can use. Don’t use human toothpaste. It is poisonous. It is the tartar buildup that causes the health problems. There are treats that can help decrease this but nothing replaces brushing your pet’s teeth to keep them clean. Having your pet’s teeth checked regularly by your Veterinarian is essential.
The problem most pet owners make in regards to their pet’s dental health is they wait until their Vet tells them their pet’s teeth need to be extracted to do anything about their pet’s dental health. Consequences of not keeping your pet’s teeth cleaned are scary. Dental disease can affect their kidneys, heart, and brain.
Having your pet’s teeth cleaned by your Vet can be expensive because he/she needs to use anesthesia. For this reason most people opt not to have their pet’s teeth cleaned. If your pet develops a disease from poorly taken care of teeth, treating your pet’s disease will be much more expensive than paying to have their teeth cleaned.
Check your pet’s teeth. If you see a substantial amount of tartar you will need to set up a dental cleaning appointment with your Vet. From there you can maintain your pet’s dental health at home. Stage 4 dental disease in pets is not reversible. During this stage, their gums may contain pus pockets and tooth roots may be visible. You can prevent this from happening to your pet.