How often do you visit your dentist? If you’re like most people, you probably see your dentist one or twice a year for routine checkups and cleanings. Dental visits are important for keeping up your oral health and preventing major issues down the line.
However, what most people don’t realize is that it’s the same thing for their pets. It’s estimated that around 80% of dogs (and 70% of cats) suffer from some sort of periodontal disease by the time they’re three years old.
In today’s post, we’re going to discuss some of the most important reasons you should be taking your dog to the vet for regular dental checkups.
Get Rid Of Bad Breath
Whether or not you allow your dog to lick your face, if you’ve got a whiff of bad breath, that’s a sure sign of bacteria buildup. As bacteria builds up it starts to form a filmy substance known as plaque. Something you’ve no doubt heard about from your own dentist.
Keeping your dog’s teeth well-brushed greatly helps fight against plaque. However, given enough time, plaque buildup can calcify and turn into tartar. At this point, you’ll need the help of a veterinary dental professional to remove the buildup.
Keep Oral Pain At Bay
While dogs are pretty good at hiding oral pain, when it gets severe enough, it’ll start to show. At that point the damage is already pretty deep.
Oral pain is not just uncomfortable for your dog, it can also cause changes in mood and lack of appetite. Simply put, it’s best to nip the problem in the bud before your dog gets to this point.
Prevent Tooth Decay & Loss
As bacteria builds up in your dog’s mouth, the very structures that support your dog’s teeth can get damaged and infected. As this progresses, the structures will weaken and teeth will get loose, eventually falling out.
If you keep up with regular teeth cleaning, and professional vet dental visits, your dog’s teeth will be healthy, clean, and stay in place.
Protect Your Pet’s Vital Organs
Taking care of your pet’s teeth is about more than just the teeth themselves. The bacteria that continues to accumulate as plaque builds up can eventually end up in your pet’s bloodstream where it can do damage to their kidneys, liver, and even their heart. This spread of bacteria is known as bacteremia. Taking care of these problems before they spread will do wonders in protecting your pet’s overall health.
Schedule Your Veterinary Oral Exam In Patterson
If you’re keeping up with regular dental exams for your dog or cat, that’s great! If not, we hope this post was encouraging (we promise, we’re not scolding you!) in helping you to see the importance of regular dental checkups for your pets.
At Brook Farm Veterinary Center, we consider ourselves your partner in taking care of your furry friend. So if you live in Patterson or the surrounding areas, contact our team to schedule your veterinary dental exam. And if you haven’t visited us before, your first exam is free!
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