Most people take very good care of their own teeth by brushing twice a day and getting them professionally cleaned once or twice yearly. However, most pet owners do not take good care of their pet’s teeth. The American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) estimates 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have signs of dental disease by age three.
Your pet should have a physical examp with your family veterinarian once or twice yearly which includes an oral checkup. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends dogs and cats receive a full dental exam and dental cleaning under anesthesia once yearly, but animals that are more prone to dental disease may need cleanings more frequently.
In addition to your family veterinarian, you play an extremely important part in detecting dental disease in your pet. You should lift your pet’s lips up once weekly to examine their teeth and gums. The teeth should be white and clean without any brown tartar and the gums should be pink with no swelling.
Signs of dental disease:
As mentioned previously, two important steps are regularly examining your pet at home and scheduling regular checkups with your family veterinarian.
In addition, diets and treats can play an important role. Feeding your pet a dry diet can help reduce the plaque adn tartar build-up on the teeth. There are even prescription diets available for animals that are prone to dental disease. Canned food and table scraps can actually worsen dental disease. Safe chew toys can be a great way to keep your pet entertained!
One of the most important and neglected components of preventing dental disease in pets is through regular tooth brushing. Here are some tips for brushing your pet’s teeth:
