By age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have already developed periodontal disease, according to veterinarian, Jennifer Akers. She and other veterinarians urge pet owners to realize that prevention is always better and oftentimes cheaper than treatment.
Dental diseases can be very painful, but also very dangerous for pets. Such diseases carry with them the possibility for severe complications, such as worsening pre-existing heart and kidney conditions. And preventive measures are the key to identifying and stopping dental disease.
Animals will not always act as though they are in pain for dental disease to exist however; it often develops slowly, giving animals time to adjust. Some signs of dental issues are bad breath, gum bleeding, changes in eating behavior, or pawing and rubbing at the face. There are a number of ways owners can prevent dental problems or stop them before they get serious.
Veterinarians suggest owners see to it that their pets get oral exams along with their annual check-ups each year. Owners are advised against giving their dogs bones or other hard toys because they are common causes of tooth breakage.
Most importantly, owners are strongly encouraged to brush their pets’ teeth every day with pet toothpaste, not human toothpaste. Human toothpaste can be toxic to animals, says Akers. Owners should start this dental care when their pets are puppies or kittens; because they are more easily trainable at this age, it is the best time for them to become accustomed to daily tooth-brushing. Tooth-brushing is especially important for small breeds of dogs because such breeds are more prone to periodontal disease.
“Dental care can help pets live a long, happy, pain-free life; but no dental care can often lead to very detrimental consequences that can be very painful for our pets and very detrimental for their long term survival,” Akers advises.
No comments:
Post a Comment