by Jordan Padgett, General Manager, Dog Tired Dog Enrichment Center
Did you know that Feb. is National Pet Dental Health Month? Everyone knows that yearly vet appointments include a dental cleaning, but did you know that regular dental care should be apart of your pet’s daily routine?
This is the perfect time to start implementing an Oral Health Maintenance Plan.
Just like people, there can be serious consequences related to poor dental health. Bad Breath is generally one of the first indicators for oral disease. Other signs include loose teeth, inflamed gums, and excessive drooling. Other problems than can happen due to poor dental hygiene are; periodontal disease, gingivitis, halitosis, gum disease, mouth tumors, and facial pain. Check in with your vet if your pet starts showing any signs.
Dental Care for your pet should start as soon as possible and most issues can be prevented at home. While it is best to begin home care when your puppy or kitten is between 8 and 12 weeks old; it is never too late to start. According to Dr. J.R. “Bert” Dodd, a clinical professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
“The first step is to train your pet to accept the brushing of their teeth. The best approach is to establish a routine of brushing your pet’s teeth with gauze that is wrapped around your finger. It may be helpful to use beef or chicken broth with dogs or tuna water with cats to get them accustomed to the routine instead of using cleaning agents.
“Once your pet is familiar with the daily routine, you can switch out the gauze for a finger brush or a soft toothbrush,” he said. “Then you can incorporate using veterinarian-approved pet toothpaste.
Even if you do regularly care for your pet’s teeth, you should visit the veterinarian if your pet has persistent bad breath or experiences bleeding from the mouth or tooth, a change in eating behavior, and sensitivity to touch around the mouth; this may be a sign of a more serious dental health condition”
A healthy Mouth can help a pet live a longer, healthier life. Make an appointment with your Vet to get your pet’s teeth examined and cleaned if you haven’t yet this year. Here at Dog Tired we are also celebrating dental hygiene with Teeth Brushing for just 5$ with any appointment or reservation.
