Pet Dental Disease is No Barking Matter!

Do you have a pet? You probably really love your pet. Your pets give you happiness, unconditional love and companionship in turn you buy them the best quality food for their nutritional needs, exercise them for fun and enjoyment, and just enjoy their company. You do everything you should as a responsible pet owner. Right?Well, not always. One of the most overlooked areas of pet care is veterinary dental care of your dogs and cats. Just like humans, animals need professional teeth cleaning on a routine basis. In fact, most veterinarians recommend brushing your animal’s teeth and gums at least twice a week! How many of us are guilty of NOT doing that? Depending on the condition of your pet’s teeth, professional cleaning is recommended every 6 to 18 months. Lack of brushing your pet’s teeth regularly can lead to other oral health issues, such as periodontal disease, which is a common gum infection found in pets. It's estimated that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease. An animal’s mouth is very similar to ours. Their teeth are subject to the same problems that we can have, such as abscesses, receding gum lines, bone loss, gingivitis, rotten teeth and periodontal disease. When dental health is not addressed, eventually an animal will need things like root canal surgery and extractions. In severe cases, the bacteria and infection in the mouth will spread to the bloodstream, causing problems in the rest of the body, like the liver, kidneys and heart. In the worst cases, these problems will lead to a shorter life span. Unfortunately, in our fast-paced lifestyle, regular dental brushings and checkups for our pets is a practice that often gets ignored or forgotten. And on top of it, soaring insurance costs coupled with a crippled economy has left many pet owners with minimal funds for their pet’s dental health needs. It’s become so critical that the American Veterinary Medical Association has declared February its National Pet Dental Health Month. In Arizona, a group of Valley veterinarians have come together under the Arrow Group of Animal Hospitals banner to help bring about awareness to our dogs’ dental care. All the veterinarians in the group are committed to helping pet owners become more aware and learn the responsibility of taking care of their dogs’ dental needs. “Sadly, most pets we see for regular physicals also show signs of dental negligence and in some cases, gingivitis,” says Dr. Roger Willms of Glendale, AZ’s Arrow Animal Hospital. “In day-to-day living, dog owners simply have a hard time keeping up with brushing their pet’s teeth. But it’s a major cause of concern. You really have to brush your pet’s teeth at least twice a week to make a difference. Otherwise, you're not really preventing anything. Our pets need good dental care just as the rest of us do.” Dr. Willms recommends a few tips to pet owners. 1) Bring your pet to the vet! Don’t wait for an annual checkup if you’re detect bad breath or see infected gums on your pet. 2) Start brushing your pet’s teeth at home and supplement their diet with specially formulated pet foods that assist in limiting plaque and tartar buildup. Look for products that have the ‘Seal of Acceptance’ from the Veterinary Oral Health Council, an organization initiated by the American Veterinary Dental Society to guide consumers. These products meet the standards for limiting plaque and tartar control in dogs and cats. 3) Be regular with your veterinary checkups for your pets. You would do the same for your childrens’ doctor visits, so do the same with your pets. Your veterinarian can monitor the progress of your pet's dental health routine, and make individual recommendations. Arrow Group of Animal Hospitals and its 16 affiliated animal hospitals in the Phoenix area are dedicated to the highest care of dogs, cats, and small animals. The doctors are highly-trained in the care of animals, and have undergone extensive training for the dental care of dogs and cats. If you’ve not made a veterinary dental visit recently, contact ArizonaPetVet.com and see one of the doctors from the Arrow Group of Animal Hospitals for all your pet needs.