Often we forget that animals are susceptible to the same kinds of diseases as humans, and in some cases even more so. This is the case with periodontal disease. In fact, periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition affecting adult pets, despite the fact that it is almost entirely preventable.
Most pets with painful dental conditions do not show clinical signs that are obvious to the owner, but this does not mean that they are not feeling pain. They cannot tell you about the pain. In the wild, animals tend to hide signs of illness or weakness – dogs and cats possess this instinct.
Many painful dental conditions develop gradually, and are more common in middle-aged and older pets. As a result, behavior that the owner interprets as “acting grumpy” may be the result of dental pain. Owners often observe that their pet acts “years younger” following dental treatment. Don’t be fooled!
Besides causing significant pain and potential tooth loss for your pet, untreated dental disease can trigger a wide variety of systemic problems. As periodontal disease progresses, bacteria make their way to the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, potentially causing damage to vital organs such as kidney, liver, and heart.
With so many products and services, both in and out of your veterinarian’s office, dog dental care has never been easier!