Bad breath, broken teeth, pain, and early heart disease are a few of the problems your pets develop without good dental hygiene. Veterinary Medical Associates strongly recommends our dental care services for all small mammal companions, beginning in the first year.
Does My Pet Really Need Dental Care?
Dental care is important to the wellbeing of your animal companions, and necessary for a long, healthy life.
Myth: In the wild, animals don’t get dental care, so domestic animals don’t need it.
Truth: Animals in the wild have less than a third of the lifespan of domestic pets; wild animals suffer broken teeth, painful infections, and diseases of the heart, kidneys, and liver. Even wild animals in the zoo are treated to regular dental care and cleanings, to extend their lives and preserve their health.
Myth: My pet cleans his teeth by chewing.
Truth: Just like our own teeth, chewing only removes some of the food and deposits from the teeth. To preserve our teeth, we brush and get professional cleanings; pets require the same care.
Myth: Pet dental care costs too much.
Truth: Dental care for pets is not nearly as costly as treating diseases that result from poor dental hygiene such as gum disease, painful infections, and heart disease. Regular brushing helps maintain teeth and gums, and reduces the need for professional cleanings.
Gum Disease Harms Your Pets
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. It begins when plaque is deposited on the teeth from eating food and treats.
At first, the plaque is soft enough to brush away. If it isn’t removed, plaque hardens into tartar and spreads under the gum line, causing infection in the gums and around the root of the tooth. This stage is characterized by inflammation, red and swollen gums that bleed easily, and discomfort for your pet.
As infection spreads, gum tissue is destroyed, the tooth socket erodes, and the teeth become loose, damaged, and broken. This condition is quite painful, and without proper dental exams you may never know your pet is suffering.
Prevent Pain in Your Pet
Sadly, without dental care, periodontal disease occurs in nearly every pet within the first few years. Preventing this pain and suffering is as easy as 1-2-3:
- Regular dental exams;
- Professional teeth cleaning as needed; and
- Home care to maintain the teeth.
At Veterinary Medical Associates, we make dental care part of your pet’s personal wellness plan.
Learn More Online
- AAHA offers this selection of helpful and informative articles about dental care for pets.
- Dr. Sheldon Rubin of the American Veterinary Medical Association gives easy instructions in his video describing how to teach pets to accept daily tooth brushing.
- The Feline Health Center at Cornell offers step-by-step instructions in this video, showing you how to brush your cat’s teeth.
- The WebMD Pet Health website offers a video demonstration in How To Brush Your Dog’s Teeth and this comprehensive article Ten Steps to Cat Dental Health.