Dental care is an extremely important habit for humans but also pets as well. Your pet’s dental care is one aspect of pet care that is often overlooked. Here’s what you can do to care for your pet’s oral health and the importance of it!

Pet Dental Care

Think of your pet’s teeth like your own. You brush your teeth daily to prevent cavities, bacteria, infection, and more. Your pet’s mouth is just as susceptible to bacteria as your own. Oral health issues can also lead to other underlying health issues. This is why pet dental care is so important. Not only will your pet feel better, but you could possibly catch an underlying health issue before it gets worse.

What To Do

The best thing for your pet is to visit your veterinarian at least once a year. Just like a dentist, your vet will look at your pet’s teeth and determine if there are any issues. It’s always better to catch dental problems sooner rather than later. On top of bringing your pet to the vet, there are things you can do at home as well. An easy way to care for your pet’s teeth is to use dental treats! These treats are designed to essentially brush your pet’s teeth, or break away at any plaque build-up. Another thing you can do for your pet is to brush their teeth! Now, this is not as easy as giving your pet a treat but is extremely beneficial to their oral health. Brushing your pet’s teeth has the same effect as us brushing our own teeth. It helps break away plaque and keep their breath nice and fresh! It also helps prevent gum disease, which is a serious problem in animals.

Symptoms

These are the most common symptoms that your pet needs their teeth checked:

• chronic bad breath
• broken or loose teeth
• extra teeth or retained baby teeth
• tartar covered or discolored teeth
• abnormal chewing or drooling
• reduced appetite or desire to eat
• pain in or around the mouth
• bleeding from the mouth
• swelling around the mouth

If your pet is displaying any of these symptoms, please call your veterinarian right away. To learn more about animal oral health visit Andes-Straley Veterinarian Hospital! At Andes-Straley, we provide a variety of services to meet your pet’s needs. We can assess your pet’s teeth and form a treatment plan if necessary! We also offer dental cleanings for your furry friends as well. For more information, visit us online here or call us at (423) 378-4443 today!