February is National Pet Dental Health Month!
01/26/2011
It is always difficult to convince people that they should brush their pets’ teeth every day. It is one more thing to add to a busy day, and often with young animals, their teeth look pretty good. It is not until our pets get a little older that the tartar begins to accumulate and gingivitis sets in followed by more severe periodontal disease. Every animal is different and, just like people, some have more problems with their teeth than others. Most of us brush our teeth at least twice a day. Can you imagine what your mouth would feel like if you didn’t? As dental disease progresses, animals’ mouths become tender and painful with infected gums and tooth roots. This may be when you begin to wish you had established the brushing habit earlier—especially after the bill for a thorough teeth cleaning and dental care under anesthesia. All animals need occasional cleaning under anesthesia to keep their teeth and gums healthier, but with regular brushing you may be able to avoid tooth loss and infections that can spread through the blood system to cause disease in other parts of the body as well. (I don’t do dental cleanings under anesthesia, but I know many clinics in our area are offering specials during Pet Dental Health month!)
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has a nice instructional video that shows how to brush your animals’ teeth with some tips on getting your pet to cooperate—including taking a slow approach over a few weeks time to get them used to the idea. I have a few photos in the pet care section with some ideas as well. It is important to use toothpastes specially formulated for pets NOT human toothpaste as this can make your animal sick.
Brushing your pets teeth daily is ideal. If you can only manage it every 2-3 days or even once a week it is still helpful. As you build the habit and you and your pet become more comfortable with it, you may find it easier to remember a quick tooth brushing every day. Other things that help keep teeth healthy are dental treats and chew toys made to rub the teeth—the AVMA video has some good examples of these (click here).
Good dental health can give your pet a happier, healthier and possibly even longer life. If you have any questions or would like some help getting started with a dental plan for your pet, contact me and we can spend some time on this during your next appointment.
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has a nice instructional video that shows how to brush your animals’ teeth with some tips on getting your pet to cooperate—including taking a slow approach over a few weeks time to get them used to the idea. I have a few photos in the pet care section with some ideas as well. It is important to use toothpastes specially formulated for pets NOT human toothpaste as this can make your animal sick.
Brushing your pets teeth daily is ideal. If you can only manage it every 2-3 days or even once a week it is still helpful. As you build the habit and you and your pet become more comfortable with it, you may find it easier to remember a quick tooth brushing every day. Other things that help keep teeth healthy are dental treats and chew toys made to rub the teeth—the AVMA video has some good examples of these (click here).
Good dental health can give your pet a happier, healthier and possibly even longer life. If you have any questions or would like some help getting started with a dental plan for your pet, contact me and we can spend some time on this during your next appointment.