If you are loving on your pet but turning away when you get a whiff of some especially bad breath, then it may be a sign that your pet is suffering from poor dental health. Dental disease can turn into complicated health issues that impact your pet’s heart, lungs, liver, and even nervous system. Fortunately, prevention is the best medicine and there is plenty you can do to enhance your pet’s dental health!
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, which was created to promote awareness about the importance of your pet’s dental health by the American Veterinary Medical Association. As a vet in Colorado Springs, we highly value our community, and that means providing the education and resources to pet owners and their dogs and cats. Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic loves to participate in National Pet Dental Health Month, and we are proud to offer a veterinary dental month discount for dogs and cats.
About Our Promotion: Take 10% off ALL dental procedures during the entire month of February, 2019. This includes dog teeth cleanings, cat teeth cleanings, oral surgery, extractions, and more. Simply contact us and mention this post to schedule your appointment!
In the meantime, here’s some great tips and tricks to improve your pet’s oral health!
Brush, Brush, Brush
Most of us start and end each day with brushing, so why should your pet be any different? Brushing your pet’s teeth daily can significantly decrease the likelihood of periodontal disease. Brushing helps remove plaque and tartar that can build up due to forms of bacteria, food particles, and saliva accumulating in your pet’s mouth. Without brushing, tartar buildup can lead to periodontal disease which erodes at the gums and can result in bad breath, bleeding gums, pain, and significant health complications. Prevention truly is the best medicine, and fortunately you can start at home!
Quick Tips: How to Brush your Pet’s Teeth
- Ease into the process by allowing your pet to become comfortable with you inspecting their mouth
- Wrap sterile gauze around your finger and encourage your pet to sniff and lick the pet-safe toothpaste (If you’re looking for pet-friendly toothpaste, contact our office. We have vet-approved recommendations)
- Gently rub the top front teeth and slowly work your way to the back, repeat this process with the lower teeth
- Try to complete a circular motion for about 15 seconds at a time, brushing on each side of the mouth
- As your pet becomes more comfortable, progress to either a finger brush or soft toothbrush that is appropriately sized for your pet
- If your pet resists, try again when they are more relaxed
- It may not always be easy to brush your pet’s teeth, but that is not a reason to avoid the process entirely
Watch What Your Pets Eat
Many dental problems can actually be caused by malnutrition, so it’s important to feed your pet a nutritious, species appropriate diet. Fortunately, there are also many products created specially to help improve your pet’s dental health.
Quick Tips:
- Look for foods with the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal of approval, which recognizes products for helping to prevent both tartar and plaque
- Give your pet non-edible bones to help grind away tartar through repetitive chewing
- Offer raw bones about the size of your pet’s head in order to prevent tooth fractures
- Add solution to your pet’s drinking water to help fight bacteria
Turn To The Pros
Just as with humans, it is important to schedule dental exams and cleanings for your pet. The experience is very similar to what humans experience, the vet will use tools to scale and polish your pet’s teeth to remove tartar and plaque. Your vet may recommend further dental procedures if needed, but with regular dental care further procedures are much less likely.
Quick Tips:
- Work with your vet to develop a diet specific for your pet’s dental and overall health needs
- Schedule regular dental check-ups to avoid further complications
- Ask your vet for advice on everyday dental care strategies if your pet is resistant to daily brushing and at-home mouth inspections
Ponderosa Vet Clinic Is The Best Dental Vet In Colorado Springs
At Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic, we want to encourage the importance of dental health by helping celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month! Whether you have a question about your pet’s diet or you would like to schedule a dental exam, we are here to help.
Make a dental appointment in the month of February 2019 and receive 10% off the entire procedure!
