FEBRUARY IS DENTAL MONTH

Save $10.00 on each dental exam through February

Prevention starts at home.

As easy as it is for your pet to get a periodontal infection, it’s just as easy for you to prevent it.  The first step is brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis to reduce plaque buildup and gingivitis.  You should use a special toothbrush and toothpaste designed for pets.  Avoid using toothpaste for people because it can upset your pet’s stomach.

Giving your pet appropriate chew toys and feeding them hard or coarse-texture food can also help remove plaque.

If your pet displays any of these symptoms, serious periodontal disease may be present.

1.  Bad breath - one of the first signs of dental disease.

2.  A yellowish-brown crust of tartar on the teeth near the gum line.

3.  Red and swollen gums.

4.  Pain or bleeding when eating, or when the mouth or gums are touched.

5.  Decreased appetite or difficulty eating.

6.  Loose or missing teeth.

BACTERIA BEFORE IT STARTS

Most periodontal infections begin simply enough. Plaque; which is composed of bacteria, salivary proteins and food debris, builds up in the space between teeth and gums, causing irritation, redness and swelling.  Eventually, pockets form and deepen, allowing bacteria to damage the tissues that hold teeth in place.

At this stage, bacteria from the oral infection have a clear path to the animal’s bloodstream and vital organs.  The organs with the highest blood flow are most susceptible to infection: lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and even the brain.  Damage to these organs caused by infection can shorten the lives of dogs and cats.

1.  Brain-Occasionally, bacteria will cross the blood-brain barrier and may cause damage.

2.  Mouth-Periodontal disease can cause bad breath as well as lead to soreness and destruction of gums, and loose or missing teeth.

3.  Lungs-Bacteria infecting the lungs may cause bronchial or other respiratory infections.

4.  Heart-Periodontal disease may result in inflammation and damage to the heart.

5. Liver-Bacteria entering the liver may result in a variety of liver disorders.

6. Kidneys-Periodontal disease may affect the kidneys by contributing bacteria that cause kidney infection and damage.

SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR REGULAR DENTAL EXAMS AND CHECKUPS

Like people, animals need professional teeth cleaning on a routine basis (every six to eighteen months).  Since even a simple dental procedure can cause some bleeding of the gums, your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic prior to cleaning to reduce and prevent the spread of infection to other organs.

Regular dental checkups are important to maintaining not only your pet’s oral health, but overall health as well.  In fact, because animals age more quickly than humans, dental exams should become more frequently as your pet ages.

Call Wolf River Veterinary Clinic now for your pet’s dental exam and save through the month of February 982-2733.

February is Pet Dental Month

Every morning and every night, you walk to your bathroom and brush your teeth.  But how often do you brush your pets’ teeth?  Proper pet dental hygiene is as important for your pet as it is for you.  Up to 80% of pets in the USA have signs of periodontal disease by the age of three.  If left untreated, it can lead to oral infections, inappetance, tooth loss, painful gum recession, and the bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause infections in the heart, kidneys and liver which can become life-threatening.

It is recommended that every 6 months you have you pets’ teeth checked by your veterinarian to see if a dental prophylaxis may be needed.  But what is a prophylaxis?  It refers to the professional cleaning of the tooth’s surface above and below the gum line, polishing the teeth to remove microscopic scratches left behind from the cleaning process and a total oral health exam.  Cleaning your pet’s teeth helps to treat existing periodontal disease and also helps to prevent it from advancing.

At home oral health care is very important as well.  Brushing your pets’ teeth is the best way to prevent periodontal disease.  In order for brushing to be affective, it should be performed daily using pet-safe toothpaste.  There are many other products that can be used to prevent periodontal disease at home including special dental diets, water additives, oral rinses, dental chews and toys.  So stop in to your veterinary clinic today to check out their dental product lines and start your at home preventative care today!

DENTAL CARE FOR PETS