Why Your Pet Needs Dental Care

Most people see the dentist once or twice a year for regularrncleaning, x-rays, and preventative care. We know that dental care is a staplernof our wellness routine, but did you know that pets need dental care,rntoo? Many pet owners aren’t told just how important it is for them to takerncare of their four-legged friends’ dental needs, and the truth is, petrndental care does far more for your dog or cat than you may realize.

Below, we’ll go over the importance of dental pet care,rnand why the next time you go to schedule your next dentist appointment, yournshould schedule one for your pet as well.

What is Pet Dental Care?

Veterinary dentistry isrnsimilar to what we experience when we go to the dentist. It includes cleaning,rnfiling, extractions, tooth repair and adjustments, and x-rays.

X-rays are key in pet dental care because manyrndiseases can occur below the gum line and can only be seen when x-rayed. It’srncommon practice for your pet to be put under anesthesia whilerngetting their teeth cleaned, but rest assured that it’s perfectly safe.rnPrecautions are taken to make sure your pet will handle anesthesia well.

Why does your cat or dog need anesthesia for a teeth cleaning? Itrnenables the vets to do the most thorough job. When humans go to the dentist,rnthey understand why they’re there and what to expect, but unfortunately, furrnbabies don’t. This can lead them to be anxious or aggressive if they’re notrnsedated.

Why Do Pets Need Dental Care, Too?

Taking care of your pets’ dental health is part of taking care ofrntheir overall health too. Eighty percent of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease byrnthe time they’re two years old. Periodontal disease isrndangerous for pets; it can lead to inflammation and infection in the blood,rnwhich can infect your pet’s organs, create holes in their mouths, and even leadrnto a broken jaw.

Regular pet dental care allows your vet tornmonitor any changes in their health, keep their mouths clean, and also preventrntooth loss and bad breath. It’s recommended that you get routine dentalrnpet care done once a year.

What Can Happen Without Pet Dental Care?

Ignoring your pet’s dental care needs can lead tornsickness, disease, and even death. When your pet’s dental needs aren’t caredrnfor, the following common issues crop up:

• Mouthrn pain. mouth pain is harder to detect, andrn it can lead to a decreased appetite, drooling, or swelling and bleeding.
• Diabetes. Petsrn that have diabetes have a higher risk for dental disease, and that can inrn turn cause their diabetes to get worse. It’s a scary cycle that can veryrn quickly spiral out of control.
• Cardiovascularrn disease. Unchecked dental disease can leadrn to inflammation of your pet’s heart and liver, which can lead to an earlyrn death.
• Compromisedrn immune system. If your pet has dental disease, itrn can cause an immune system response. Unchecked, their immune systemsrn become solely focused on their mouths, which doesn’t allow them to fightrn off other illnesses and infections elsewhere in the body.

How to Find Affordable Pet Dental Care

One reason so many pet owners put off regular checkups for theirrnpets is because of a preconceived notion that pet care is costly. But affordablernpet care is available.

One way to keep costs at bay is to develop a regular brushingrnroutine at home. This helps keep plaque and tarter down and can minimizerngingivitis and other gum and mouth diseases. The cost of dental petrncare will vary from clinic to clinic, but there are ways to minimizernthe impact on your wallet. You can sign up for pet insurance,rnlook for promotional savings from your local vet, or ask about a payment orrnfinancing plan with your vet. At the end of the day, the cost of preventativerncare for your best friend is worth the few extra years it can add to theirrnlife.

Pet Dental Care Near You

You know how to take care of your cat or dog; give them lots ofrnlove, feed them a healthy diet, give them regular exercise, play with them, andrnnow you know to add pet dental care to your routine. Tornschedule your pet’s next teeth cleaning with pet dentist, contactrnour team at Forever Vets today!