Why does my pet’s breath smell bad?
Dental disease affects more than 80% of pets over three years old. How can you tell if your pet is affected, and if it’s time to seek professional dental help?
If you observe any of the following signs, your pet needs a dental examination and an anesthetic dental cleaning performed by a veterinarian:
Bad breath
Gingivitis
Fractured Teeth
Loose teeth
Discolored teeth
Why do I need to take care of my pet’s teeth? Growing up our pets never had dental procedures and they were fine.
We hear this question all the time. Pets are living longer than ever before, and much of that is due to an increased awareness of dental disease. Our pets now receive care much like our own, with annual blood work and examinations to make sure they stay healthy.
Dental disease and systemic diseases like heart, liver, and kidney disease go hand in hand. Imagine being exposed to harmful bacteria and their toxic byproducts 24 hours a day; it’s a continual bacterial shower as the bacteria make their way into the bloodstream and throughout the body. Many times after a thorough dental cleaning, pets with health issues see noticeable improvement in heart murmurs, liver, and kidney disease, as well as an improved quality of life.
Visit our blog next month to learn about the dangers of anesthesia-free dental cleanings and why reputable veterinarians advise against them.
This guest post was written by Jocelyn Davis, Manager of Clinical Operations and Development for ZippiVet Animal Hospital.