Dental health for your dog can be a serious issue. Read more about why keeping your dog’s teeth healthy is so important on the AZPAWS blog.

Why It’s In Your Best Interests to Keep Your Pets’ Teeth Strong and Healthy

One health item that is consistently overlooked when it comes to pets is their dental care. If a dog or a cat has bad breath, owners should sit up and take notice. Bad breath may be a symptom of a larger issue, such as rotting teeth or periodontal disease. If a pet has bad teeth, they could very well be in pain just doing simple tasks, like eating, and the owner may not know until the pain is quite advanced.

Keeping a cat or dog’s dental health up is not a difficult task, and most (if not all) veterinarians highly recommend that pet owners keep an eye on the dental health of their pets. So what can owners do to make sure that their pets’ teeth are healthy, and why are veterinarians emphasizing the need for pet dental health? Read on to find out.

Why is dental care for dogs and cats so important?

By the age of three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease, which is why so many vets suggest dental care for your dog and emphasize dental care for pets in general. If not treated, poor dental health has been linked to problems in pets’ organs such as the heart and kidneys.

Teeth can also become infected, break, and tumors or cysts can easily form in these absences. Naturally, this is extremely uncomfortable for the animal and can impact their eating habits. Pet owners might be horrified to realize that they’ve caused their beloved pets unnecessary pain by not being aware of the situation. The older the pet is, the more important it is to keep an eye on their dental health.

What can pet owners do to improve dental care?

Dog dental care might sound silly, but it should eventually become a regular routine in pet healthcare for owners. It’s not too difficult to carry out dental care for your dog. Indeed, you can reach around 90% of the surface of a dog’s teeth by brushing. You don’t even have to floss!

Certain treats or pet food can also be helpful in maintaining good dental care for your dog or cat and if you can’t brush your dog’s teeth every day, investing in this kind of food or treat can be helpful. You should consult with the vet to put together the most effective regimen for your pet.

Your pet should also be visiting the vet annually (at least) and during that time, the vet should be doing a thorough examination of their mouth. After the age of seven, it’s recommended that they get inspected twice a year. Listen to the vet as well. Veterinarians report that even though they explain how important it is to brush pets’ teeth, around 65% of pet owners don’t follow through at home.

What happens if my pet is already suffering from bad dental care?

If you haven’t been paying attention to dental care for your dog or cat and you believe that your pet is suffering, you should take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible and see what the vet recommends.

They may need a veterinarian dentist to perform a procedure and/or carry out a thorough dental cleaning. In many cases, a vet can replace or repair broken teeth and pull bad teeth, just like with humans. Do follow their directions for post-procedure and be sure to pay attention to their instructions for proper pet dental care afterwards!

Pet dental care is often overlooked by even the most concerned pet owners, but it can cause so many problems for your pet, that pet owners should have a higher level of awareness. If you need a dental cleaning, come visit us, and let us help keep your pets’ teeth healthy and strong.

Thank you.