The Benefits of Protecting Your Pet's Oral (and overall) Health

The importance of dental health and how to protect your pet's oral (and overall) health couldn't be stressed enough. Read our article that answers frequently asked questions about dental care for your pets and how to keep their mouths healthy.

1. How important is dental cleaning for dogs and cats?

Dental cleaning is considered a staple these days of preventative care for our dogs and cats.  Dental disease has been linked to higher incidences of heart disease and respiratory infections in our pets, much as it has been shown to cause those in humans.  As our pets live longer, secondary diseases caused by chronic infection in the mouth become of greater concern.

2. What is the best dental care for dogs and cats?

The “best” dental care for dogs and cats depends on the individual animal.  Some animals are genetically predisposed to having greater difficulty with dental disease.  It is recommended that animals have their teeth checked by a veterinarian yearly with regular dental cleanings as suggested by the veterinarian. 

The best dental care for pets that you can do at home is brushing their teeth with pet safe toothpaste daily. This will keep tartar from building on the teeth and enables the gums to be healthy to avoid gingivitis.

3. How early should pet owners start dental care for their pets?

The earlier dental care is initiated at home, the better.  Teeth brushing at home is highly recommended for pet owners, and it’s important to mention that most pets will enjoy the experience when started during their time as a young dog or cat.  Pets start losing their baby teeth between 3 and 4 months of age, and all of the adult teeth are present at 6 months of age.

4. What are the early signs of dental disease in dogs and in cats?

An early sign of dental disease that most owners will notice is bad breath. If you look in your pet’s mouth often, you’ll see some tartar buildup or a bright red line above the teeth.  That bright red line is the sign for swelling of the gums or gingivitis.    

5. Does dental disease cause chronic pain for pets?

Yes, dental disease is painful for pets just as it is for people.  The main difference between humans and our pets when it comes to displaying dental pain is that we expect someone to fix it so we complain.  Our pets do not expect anyone to help with their dental pain so they continue to eat and will not whine until the pain is very bad.  If your pet is showing aversion to touching their mouth, excess drooling, sideways chewing when eating, or crying when trying to eat/bite, they are in a large amount of dental pain.

And if you have any questions about dental care for your pets, feel free to call us at Carrollton Animal Hospital at (330) 627-4898 or send us an email at hospital@carrolltonanimal.com!