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. Many pets of a certain age need dental cleanings every year. It’s not surprising, since most human dentists recommend we get dental cleanings every 6 months – and we brush our teeth twice a day!
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 plaque 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 symptoms, then chances are he most likely is affected. Give us a call for a dental exam today.