Dental Disease
If you tend to shy away from your pet's kisses and try to offer him a breath mint instead, that's a pretty good indication that your companion may have a dental problem. Other symptoms of periodontal disease can include difficulty eating or chewing food, pawing at the mouth and sensitivity, loss of appetite, and of course the presence of tartar and gum inflammation. Is your pet showing any of these signs?
If you answered "yes" to that question, please take the next step to see your veterinarian and discuss treatment options for your four-legged friend. If you are unsure about the symptoms, consider that the majority of the pet population suffers from periodontal disease - 85% in fact. Regardless of the severity of your pet's condition, though, it is important to pay close attention to the health of his teeth and gums and to act now.
What can you do to treat your pet and to take care of his teeth in the future? Home care is certainly available and is highly recommended throughout the lifetime of your pet. Brushing is best, but if your pet dislikes that routine, other products are available. From chews, to rinses, to water additives, a variety of items can be easily used to protect your pet's teeth. It is important to note, however, that in most cases (typically when a pet is more than one year old) a professional dental cleaning must be done to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
The dental cleaning is an anesthetic event that allows the veterinary staff to thoroughly scale away layers of plaque and tartar on your pet's teeth. With the pet sedated, the veterinarian can also examine his mouth more easily to detect further health concerns and to correct them as needed. Although it may seem like a big ordeal at first, and you may be hesitant to proceed with the procedure, compare it to your own dental health. We do our best to visit our dentist once or twice each year for a cleaning. We brush our teeth, floss, and use mouth wash several times a day, and the dentist is still able to scale away little bits of plaque and tartar that have built up over time. Now think about your pet's teeth, especially if you have never brushed them, or done anything else to keep them somewhat clean. After just a couple years, you can imagine how your pet's teeth may look. Some pets even live their whole lives without a single dental cleaning!
As you might suspect, periodontal disease can cause much more harm than simply giving your pet bad breath. As the tartar worsens and bacteria builds up in your pet's mouth, the gums begin to bleed and become inflamed, tooth enamel weakens, bone loss occurs, and pain and infection certainly set in. The bacteria that has filled the mouth can quickly invade the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing severe complications to major organs.
Below are before and after photos of dental cleanings with severe periodontal disease. Click each picture to enlarge it and to see the major health improvements from this procedure. Notice in the first photo that the upper premolar had to be extracted from this patient due to the severity of disease and bone loss.
If you answered "yes" to that question, please take the next step to see your veterinarian and discuss treatment options for your four-legged friend. If you are unsure about the symptoms, consider that the majority of the pet population suffers from periodontal disease - 85% in fact. Regardless of the severity of your pet's condition, though, it is important to pay close attention to the health of his teeth and gums and to act now.
What can you do to treat your pet and to take care of his teeth in the future? Home care is certainly available and is highly recommended throughout the lifetime of your pet. Brushing is best, but if your pet dislikes that routine, other products are available. From chews, to rinses, to water additives, a variety of items can be easily used to protect your pet's teeth. It is important to note, however, that in most cases (typically when a pet is more than one year old) a professional dental cleaning must be done to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
The dental cleaning is an anesthetic event that allows the veterinary staff to thoroughly scale away layers of plaque and tartar on your pet's teeth. With the pet sedated, the veterinarian can also examine his mouth more easily to detect further health concerns and to correct them as needed. Although it may seem like a big ordeal at first, and you may be hesitant to proceed with the procedure, compare it to your own dental health. We do our best to visit our dentist once or twice each year for a cleaning. We brush our teeth, floss, and use mouth wash several times a day, and the dentist is still able to scale away little bits of plaque and tartar that have built up over time. Now think about your pet's teeth, especially if you have never brushed them, or done anything else to keep them somewhat clean. After just a couple years, you can imagine how your pet's teeth may look. Some pets even live their whole lives without a single dental cleaning!
As you might suspect, periodontal disease can cause much more harm than simply giving your pet bad breath. As the tartar worsens and bacteria builds up in your pet's mouth, the gums begin to bleed and become inflamed, tooth enamel weakens, bone loss occurs, and pain and infection certainly set in. The bacteria that has filled the mouth can quickly invade the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing severe complications to major organs.
Below are before and after photos of dental cleanings with severe periodontal disease. Click each picture to enlarge it and to see the major health improvements from this procedure. Notice in the first photo that the upper premolar had to be extracted from this patient due to the severity of disease and bone loss.
Before
After
Before
After
Your pet's dental health may not be as severe as these photos indicate, but if neglected could certainly worsen and result in greater complications down the road. We encourage you to visit our office right away with any concerns you may have about your pet's health. Please ask Dr. Bobo and our staff for dental cleaning recommendations for your animal, and learn what you can do today.
