In case you were unaware, February is National Pet Dental Health Month and your pet’s dental health is very commonly overlooked. Here’s some information about how important dental health is for your cat and/or dog!
- According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, up to 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have dental disease by the age of 3 years old. Those numbers are quite staggering and we want to help bring those percentages down, one pet at a time.
- Symptoms of dental disease often go unseen to pet owners. Common symptoms include:
- Bad breath
- Dropping toys/food [due to mouth pain]
- Loss of appetite and weight loss [as a result of pain during eating]
- Broken teeth
- Inflamed and/or bleeding gums
- Poor dental health can lead to catastrophic health problems in other areas of the body. Research done at Purdue University shows that dental disease can lead to problems in your pet’s heart!
- Despite their wonderful marketing, the best way to help your pet’s dental situation is not with a “dental chew.” The best way to provide your cat or dog with good oral hygiene habits is to brush their teeth (daily if possible, at least 3 times/week if daily becomes a bit of a challenge) and to have their teeth examined by your veterinarian at least every 6 months to 1 year.
We hope that these facts will help you keep your dog’s dental health in tip top shape! Let us know what you think in the comments below!