Pet Dental Month

February is Pet Dental Health Month! Many vets and shelters host awareness camps and campaigns this month to educate pet owners on the need to maintain the dental hygiene of their pets, how to get them into the habit of accepting teeth brushing, treats and foods that are good for cleaning out your pet’s mouth, and the consequences of bad pet dental hygiene.

How Often Should You Brush Your Pet’s Teeth?

People are very conscious of brushing and flossing their teeth every day. They keep regular appointments with their dentists to keep their teeth and gums healthy, and in good shape. While this is a great thing for their dental health, a lot of people have never even given any thought to their pet’s oral health. Well, guess what? Your pet’s dental needs are just as important as yours, and they’re counting on you to help them with it because they can’t exactly hold a toothbrush themselves with their paws. Just non-opposable thumbs troubles, you know?

Brushing your pet’s teeth can be a struggle on its own. Of course, your pet is not going to sit still while you plunge a toothbrush in its mouth; thus, it is recommended that you start brushing their teeth when they are younger, so they have accepted it as part of the routine by the time they grow up. You don’t have to clean their teeth every day; vets recommend a thorough brushing session twice or thrice a week, which is sufficient to keep gum diseases, plaque, tartar, and bad breath at bay. Your pet might enjoy brushing more if you get this poultry-flavored toothpaste by Petrodex for them.

Is your Pet At Risk of Periodontal Disease?

Not brushing your pet’s teeth regularly can result in many dental complications that can be easily avoided. Dental issues in pets are more common than you think and they don’t start showing up till your pet is way into adulthood. Dental diseases start exhibiting symptoms in most pets by the age of three. In fact, almost 80% of dogs have some sort of dental disease by that age!

We advise you to stay vigilant of your dog’s dental health situation and look out for these warning signs. Do not take these lightly, as they may be indicative of more serious underlying dental diseases.

• Broken teeth
• Bad breath
• Plaque and tartar
• Excessive drooling
• Bleeding gums

Periodontal disease is a result of inflammation in the gums and other surrounding structures of your teeth. The disease has two steps: gingivitis and periodontitis. With the progression of the disease, your pet will experience severe pain in its gums, and could end up losing its teeth altogether.

Nobody wants to see their pet suffer like that. And we can help make sure that they never contract this painful disease by being a little more regular with their brushing schedules. An easy way to prevent periodontal disease is by preventing plaque and tartar buildup, which eventually weakens the bones and gums around the teeth. And the easiest way to do that is to brush your pet’s teeth regularly.

Luckily, if your pet dog or cat really despises getting their teeth brushed, there are alternative ways to get them to clean their teeth, such as specially formulated kibble and treats for cats and dogs, dental sprays, and dental chew toys. These Indigenous Dental Health Bones and Wisedom Dog Chew Toy can help your pets maintain their dental health while also enjoying themselves.

There are also some easy, home remedies and periodontal disease prevention tips such as feeding your cats and dogs raw, clean chicken feet. Not only will your pets love you for it, but it will also act as ‘edible toothbrushes’ for them.

This month, put your pet’s dental health first. If you are not home to brush your pet’s teeth yourself, you can let our pet sitter know so they can do it for you when they drop in to check up on your pet. Our pet sitters at Little Friends Pet Sitting and Dog Walking are very accommodating of special requests if you ask them for any. Call us up and let us know about your pet’s dental requirements so we can take care of it for you in your absence.