Pet Dentistry

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Dentistry is an important aspect of your pet’s health and well being that is often overlooked. A routine dental program and home care can add years to your pet’s life. The mouth and teeth are not the only areas affected by dental disease. Severe dental disease can progress and cause damage to major organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys. Therefore it is vital to the health of your pet that a routine dental care program be implemented. It’s never too early or late to begin routine dental care at home. If you have a young animal you can add teeth brushing into your training program. Teach your puppy/kitten that getting their teeth brushed is a fun game with yummy pet approved toothpaste. If your pet already has tartar build up then the first step to a good dental care routine is to call our office and schedule a dental exam and cleaning. The teeth will be examined, cleaned, and polished; rotting or damaged teeth, cavities and abscesses will be addressed. After the dental cleaning, the teeth will be free of the hard tartar build up and you can begin routine periodontal prevention at home. Brushing the teeth with a pet approved toothpaste daily or as often as you can is the best care. However there are rinses, dental chews and diets available as well that will help prevent tartar formation. There are many products that are available for home dental care. Ask our doctors and staff which product line is best suited for your lifestyle. Getting into a routine and scheduling regular dental check-ups will help you stay one step ahead of the plaque build-up that leads to the progression of periodontal disease.