Pet’s just like us, need a healthy mouth. Have you ever heard of the saying ‘a happy mouth is a healthy mouth’. Maybe not, because we just made that one up. Below you will find the top reasons why dog dental care is so important.
- Let’s start with the breath. Yes, when dog’s have a lot of food particles and build-up plaque, they tend to have a smelly breathe. Every smooch your dog after a good non-anesthetic dental? You will notice the difference.
- Did you know that dog’s teeth are living tissue, just like our own set of teeth. Every tooth has layers, the core (also called pulp) is the actually tooth. This is covered by bone, which is then covered by dentine, and lastly a layer of enamel. The pulp is what supplies nerves and blood vessels to the tooth to help keep it healthy and alive. When a tooth rots, it means that it has ‘died’ and the nerves and blood vessels no longer work.
- Dental diseases can actually cause other health issues. Toxins from periodontal disease can be absorbed in the dog’s blood stream. Veterinarians believe that bacterial colonies basically ‘set up shop’ within the animal’s tissues of the heart, kidneys and liver. This can lead to a number of problems in those organs as dogs age.
- Maintenance of your pet’s teeth can prevent a lot of problems in the future, saving you money in the long term. Going to your vet at least for a yearly check-up and having a couple of dental cleanings per year-can reduce problems in the future.
- Humans need regular dental cleaning and we brush our teeth on a daily basis-why wouldn’t your pets benefit? Check out a video on how to brush your dog and cat’s teeth to avoid more dental cleanings, whether they are with anesthesia or without anesthesia.
- Did you you know that pet’s have baby teeth that they loose? Unfortunately, there are times these do not fall out. Cats have 30 teeth full grown and dogs have 42 teeth. The puppy teeth generally fall out between 14-30 weeks and are replaced with the adult teeth. When the milk teeth do not fall, they can create gum irritation or swelling, tartar buildup and sometimes infections. It is always good to have an expert take a look at your dog’s oral cavity to see if they have all fallen out. Cat’s can have these problems too, but it happens less often.
- Here is an interesting fact: 70% of cats and 80% of dogs suffer from some type of periodontal (dental) disease before the age of 3? Unfortunately, dental disease is not only an old dog or cat problem. Usually this happens, due to plaque build-up. Getting regular checkups and cleanings can help prevent this.
- Have you seen dogs that have their tongue sticking out of their mouth? Did you know that this is most likely due to teeth loss. Unfortunately, dogs who do not have a good oral health loose their teeth over time. They may become rotten or the infection underneath the gum. Lesions can also cause teeth to erode, this may cause pain called Resportion. In cats, feline stomatitis, an inflammation inside the cat’s mouth, causes bad breath, drooling and difficulty eating.
- We all know most dogs do not talk and are good at hiding their pain. Sometimes dog’s have major dental issues, which are not noticeable. This can worsen over time, when they do not get regular dental check-ups.
- Teeth suffer from ‘wear and tear’. Well, its not like they can choose to change them. Just like our teeth, tooth wear is normal. IN some situations, called attrition, wear can be more excessive, which results in more than usual loos of the top layer of the teeth. This happens often in the incisors. As the teeth wear down, their root (also known as pulp) becomes exposed.
Now that you know why it is so important to keep up with your pet’s oral hygiene. Below find a cute video of how to make so fun dental treats. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.