4 out of 5 Pets Live With Dental Pain

It is a sad statistic, but true.  4 out of 5 pets are living with dental disease, pain, and infection.

Animals are very good at hiding symptoms of pain and discomfort, so many owners are unaware of the problem until it is severe.

Some signs that your pet is experiencing dental discomfort include:

• Bad Breath
• A sore mouth or mouth sensitivity
• Difficulty eating, dropping food
• Loose teeth and tooth loss
• Pain and rubbing at the mouth and face
• Bleeding gums
• Yellow or brown tartar on teeth
• Dribbling water and drooling
• Swelling on the face

If you notice any of these, it is time for a checkup.  Dental disease never gets better without treatment.  Just brushing can’t remove infection, or clean hardened tartar under the gum line.  Only a professional cleaning under anesthesia can do that.

Keeping your pet’s teeth cleaned has long lasting and profound impact on its health.  The constant infection of dental disease can affect all organ systems, including the kidneys and heart.  Once you have made the investment in your pet’s oral health by cleaning away tartar, clearing up any infections, and removing decayed teeth, protect that investment by brushing daily.

If brushing isn’t possible, there are many dental diets available, as well as dental chews available for you to use.  Just remember that all dental chews are not created equally.  Some, such as sprays and water treatments, are not effective at all, and others are damaging to teeth.

We only recommend chews that carry the VOHC seal on them.  This seal is awarded to products that successfully meet preset criteria for effectiveness in controlling plaque and tartar in dogs and cats.

Dental diets and chews must be used daily for the best results.

If you have questions about your pet’s oral health, please call the office at 824-4108 to set up an appointment.  The Veterinarian will evaluate the mouth, and we can then set up an appropriate treatment plan.