Pet Care｜Dental Care Helps Your Pet Live Longer

Like us, pet’s teeth also need looking after, and pet dental care is a very important part of overall health, it can cause oral disease, or causes other health problems. So what should we do for keeping pet’s teeth healthy? Let check!

What are the common signs of dental disease in dogs and cats?

Bad breath
Broken or loose teeth
Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
Pain in or around the mouth
Bleeding from the mouth
Swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth

Without proper dental care, plaque and tartar build-up leads to periodontal disease, which can cause not only oral pain, tooth loss, and also other health problems, including heart, kidney and stomach problem.

The causes of pet dental problem

Broken teeth and roots
Periodontal disease
Abscesses or infected teeth
Cysts or tumors in the mouth
Malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth and bite
Broken (fractured) jaw
Palate defects (such as cleft palate)

How to Take Care of Your Pet’s Mouth

So, what can you do for your beloved pet to help ensure their mouth stays healthy and comfortable? For most pets, home dental care and an annual anesthetized oral exam and cleaning are a great start.

1. Home dental care:

Brushing daily is the best way to prevent oral problem, but please be reminded that do not use human toothpaste though; it may be toxic to your pet.
Feed your pet with dental diets which can help to decrease the tartar and plaque buildup.
Use chews, dental toy or teeth cleaning biscuits, all of which can help to keep the teeth clean.
Avoid treats and any other food with sugar or corn syrup.
Water Additives can also be the supplement to care your pet’s teeth.

2. Annual oral exam

Early detection and treatment of periodontal disease are crucial, not only because it can cause pain and discomfort for your pets, but it can also lead to serious illnesses in advanced cases. As mentioned before, periodontal disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth. Other health problems found in association with dental problem include kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes. So that’s why your pets need to be checked by veterinarian yearly.

In some cases, pets will need a professional dental care from a qualified veterinarian due to the degree of dental disease. Vet will give the teeth a thorough cleaning using specialized dental equipment and perform dental procedures if needed.

Vet would also assess your pet to determine the disease and whether extractions, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will be required. Sometimes, advanced periodontal care or extractions may be necessary to return the mouth to a healthy condition.

If you have any questions about professional dental care, please contact: Wellness Veterinary Hospital

NOTE: Why anesthesia is required?

As you know, dentist uses techniques to minimize pain and discomfort and can ask you how you are feeling, so you accept the procedures and do your best to keep still. However, your pet does not understand the benefit of dental procedures, and they react by moving, trying to escape, or even biting, which is normal.

Anesthesia makes it possible to perform the dental procedures with less stress and pain for your pet. In addition, anesthesia allows for a better cleaning because your pet is not moving around and risking injury from the dental equipment. If radiographs (x-rays) are needed, your pet needs to be very still in order to get good images, and this is unlikely without heavy sedation or anesthesia. Nowadays, anesthesia is safer now than ever and continues to improve so that the risks are very low and are far outweighed by the benefits.

Proper dental care can help your furry family live a longer and healthier life from avoiding periodontal disease and other health problem. Love your pet, remember “Prevention is always better than cure”!