The PetsitUSA Blog

---

Smile, doggie. Smile, kitty. It’s pet dental health month! Posted: 12 Feb 2010 02:12 PM PST It’s time to think teeth! February is Pet Dental Health Month. What shape are your pet’s teeth in? If you’re like a lot of pet owners, you may not have given much thought to your pets teeth. Dental care is an important part of pet care though, and shouldn’t be overlooked. Imagine never brushing your teeth. Pretty disgusting, huh? Your parents probably taught you to brush your teeth from a very early age. They knew that if you didn’t take care of them starting as a youngster, you’d have problems later on. The same is true for your pets. The earlier you start taking care of their teeth, the better off they’ll be healthwise. Doggie (or kitty) breath isn’t something your pets should have to live with. Here are five reasons why it’s important to pay attention to your dog or cat’s teeth: Bad Breath While it may seem that bad breath is just an annoying part of having a dog or cat, it’s actually a symptom of a larger problem. It means your pets’ mouth needs attention! Think of how your breath is first thing in the morning. What do you do? Get out the toothbrush! If your pet has some nasty doggie or kitty breath, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Your pet may need to have his or her teeth cleaned. After that’s done is an ideal time to start brushing your pet’s teeth. Periodontal Disease (aka gum disease) Periodontal disease develops as food particles and bacteria collect along the gumline, forming placque. Placque combines with the minerals in the saliva and forms tartar (calculus). The build up of tartar irritates and inflames the gums and causes gingivitis and voila…periodontal disease is born. If not taken care of, this can lead to tooth loss – not to mention a heck of a lot of pain. The American Veterinary Dental Society estimates that more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop periodontal disease by the age of 3 years. Taking care of your pet’s teeth can greatly reduce the chances of periodontal disease. Other Diseases Bacteria build up from placque and calculus can travel through the body, causing a variety of health problems. Liver, kidney, and heart disease have been linked to poor oral hygiene. Damage can happen over time, so don’t ignore your pet’s teeth even if they are beautiful, shiny teeth. Loss of teeth Taking care of your pets teeth will greatly reduce the possibility of losing teeth due to poor oral hygiene. During pet dental health month, many veterinarians offer discounted dental exams and teeth cleaning. If your cat or dog hasn’t had her teeth looked at by a veterinarian lately this is the ideal time to do so. Technorati Tags: pet dental health month, pet dental care

You are subscribed to email updates from PetsitUSA Blog To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610