The Complete Guide to Dental Care for Pets

Do you know that monthly or bi-monthly visits to the veterinary dental specialist can improve your pet’s oral health? As a pet owner, you are responsible for the overall health of your domestic friend, especially their dental care.

According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), almost 80 percent of cats and 70 percent of dogs start showing signs of dental disease by the age of three.

Picture what happens if you do not brush your teeth for days or weeks. You will not only have an unpleasant taste in your mouth, but you will have to deal with lots of plaque as well. And your dentist bill will be jacked so high that you will feel like you’ve been robbed.

The same thing can happen to your beloved pet unless you take your furry friend to the veterinary dentist from time to time.

Why is Your Pet’s Dental Health Important?

Dental health can affect numerous aspects of your pet’s health, including immunity and digestion. Maintaining a consistent dental routine by regularly visiting a veterinary dental specialist can bring about positive effects that are far beyond the issues on their mouths.

Pet dental care is essential for the following reasons:

• For preventing tooth loss
• Prevention of organ damage
• For preventing halitosis or bad breath
• Preventing the worsening of dental disease

Common Dental Problems

The following are some of the common dental problems that pets face:

• Mouth ulcers
• Gingivitis
• Periodontal disease
• Bad breath
• Toothache

Dental Care for Pets

In most cases, the dental health of some pets is not always a priority until the damage has already been done. But dental disease, as well as unexpected vet bills linked with poor dental health, is preventable.

However, you may have to follow these steps:

Create a Tooth-brushing Routine

Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly will go a long way in abating dental disease. However, you need to be careful when introducing this activity to your pet.

As a rule, it is generally advisable to introduce daily brushing of teeth right from when your pet is a kitten or puppy. Young pets can also be severely affected by poor dental health. But if you adopted your pet as an adult, you can still make moves to develop a regular tooth-brushing routine.

Options for brushing include finger brushes, gauze, and cotton swabs along with soft-bristled toothbrushes. You may undergo trial and error until you discover the option that your pet is most comfortable with. If you can get your pets to become accustomed to the daily brushing of their teeth, that would be a great idea.

Never use human toothpaste for brushing your pet’s teeth as it can harm your furry friend. Go for a flavored toothpaste if your pet prefers it; but if your pet focuses more on licking the paste instead of allowing you to brush their teeth thoroughly, you may have to use the unflavored variety.

If you’re not sure how to do this, Safari Veterinary Care Center offers affordable pet dental care.

Do Not Skip Regular Veterinary Examination

Regular visits to the pet vet animal hospital for check-ups are essential for maintaining excellent dental care for your pet. Your pet’s veterinary dental specialist possesses several years of experience and can easily spot dental problems that you can easily miss.

So, make sure you don’t skip regular visits to the animal care center. The vet may even teach you additional techniques for brushing or deep cleaning if necessary.

Go for Professional Pet Teeth Cleaning

Professional pet teeth cleanings usually require general anesthesia. This will allow your veterinary dentist to clean below and above the gum line, thus ensuring your pet’s entire mouth is thoroughly cleaned.

So, talk with your veterinary dental specialist to figure out the best option and schedule for your pet’s dental care routine. If your vet is unavailable or too busy, you can always head to Google to search for a ‘veterinary dentist near me’ and get a list of options in your area. But if you live in League City, Safarivet is always at your reach.

Conclusion

Helping your pet to maintain proper dental care is vital to your pet’s overall health. As you may have observed, the state of your pet’s mouth dictates the state of your pet’s overall health.

Prevention, however, is always better than cure. So, make sure you always remain on top of your pet dental care by visiting the animal care center from time to time.