February is Pet Dental Health Month, and it’s a perfect time to start the year off right by providing good dental care for your pet. Dental or periodontal disease can lead to many serious health and medical issues if left untreated. And untreated dental disease can be very painful for your pet and can even cause them to stop eating. The key to good dental care and managing dental disease is prevention.
Periodontal disease and other forms of oral disease are the most common health problems facing dogs and cats. It is particularly common in small dogs. It tends to get worse as dogs and cats get older. It starts out as tartar which mineralizes into brown tartar. Bacteria live in the tartar and soon will cause gum and bone infection, which leads to tooth loss. Bad breath is a tell-tale sign of gum infection.
Dental disease has 4 grades of severity. It is progressive and without treatment gets worse with time. If you put off dealing with it in the early stages, your pet will end up with more pain, more tooth loss, and a longer procedure and you will end up with a higher bill. If your dog or cat is showing any of the following symptoms, then chances are he most likely is affected. Give us a call for a dental exam today.
Here’s what to look for:
- Swollen gums
- Bleeding gums
- Discolored teeth
- Broken teeth
- Bad breath
- Drooling
- Oral masses
- Rubbing or pawing at the face
For more information on dental disease and dental care, visit https://animal-medical-clinic.com/dental-care-2/