February is Dental Month!

​February is known as Dental Month! It's a time where we focus attention on your pet's oral health and how it can affect other organs and their overall health. Dental disease can lead to more serious illnesses involving the heart, liver and kidney.
 
The statistics on dental health in pets are surprising - about 85% of dogs and cats suffer from dental disease after their first year. There are many factors that can contribute to oral health - including lack of dental care and veterinary dental checkups, breed and age.
 
It can be difficult to know when your pet has dental disease, especially if you're pet isn't willing to let you take a look in their mouths. Some signs to look for are: bad breath, drooling, tooth loss, buildup up of tarter on teeth, painful when eating (decreased appetite), bleeding or red gums, and pawing at mouth. If you are suspicious that your pet has developed dental disease, discuss it with a veterinarian or technician at your pet's annual examination, or bring them in for a dental exam.
 
There are things you can do to slow down the development of dental disease and maintain good oral health for your pet:

• First off is starting an oral care routine at home! If your pet will allow you, you can use a toothbrush or finger brush, paired with a veterinary toothpaste, to brush your pet's teeth at home. This prevents plaque from accumulating on teeth, just like in us!
• Surpervise your pets if they like to chew on hard objects - this can lead to broken teeth that need to be surgically removed.
• Feed a dental diet, there are diets available that mimic a toothbrush's action and have plaque and tartar reducing ingredients. We carry both Royal Canin Dental and Hill's Prescription t/d that have been successful in maintaining oral health!

 
There is a lot to explore when it comes to dental health and disease when it comes to your pet - definitely too much to write in one blog! If you're interested in learning more, please speak to one of our team members, drop by for more information on brushing your pet's teeth and the diets we have available, or visit one of the two links: www.petdental.ca or www.avma.org/Events/pethealth/Pages/February-is-National-Pet-Dental-Health-Month.aspx.