National Pet Dental Health Month
01/09/08

The American Veterinary Medical Association has designated February as National Pet Dental Health month. Many Veterinary clinics, including ours, will be offering discounted dental work during this month. Dental care for our pets has become a routine part of pet care. Studies demonstrate that pets who receive good dental care live an average of 2 years longer than pets that do not. Dental disease amounts to a constant infection of the gums which can lead to heart and kidney disease among others. For those of us who aren’t always able to avoid our pets’ “kisses”, their breath is vastly improved by good dental care. Veterinary hospitals are usually well equipped to perform a variety of dental procedures. Good dental care, then, is simply a matter of pet lovers having the will and commitment to good health care for their pets.

Simply being aware of your pets’ dental health is the first step in good care. When you finish reading this, go find a pet and pull the lip back until you can see the large premolars of the upper teeth. Look for brown colored tarter and swollen red gums that are definite signs that your pet needs a cleaning. Many pets, especially small breed dogs and some cats, need cleaning as early as 3 – 4 years of age.

Home dental care will decrease the number of routine dental cleanings that will have to be done during a pets’ life. Special toothbrushes and toothpaste for pets are generally available through your veterinarian or pet supply store. Establish a regular schedule for getting the brushing done, the more often the better. This is especially important with cats because they don’t chew on toys. However, even if you brush your pets’ teeth regularly, just like us, they will still need cleaning. Your vet will examine their teeth during regular annual exams and let you know when cleaning is advisable. Various chew toys are available for dogs. We like the firm rubber toys that can only be broken off in tiny bits. Chewing such toys has been shown to remove significant amounts of tarter and slow the development of dental disease. Good Luck!