Dental Health
Dental care is a large part of a pet’s health. The gingiva (gum tissue) has a lot of blood supply. Bacteria that live in the mouth can take advantage of inflamed gums and damaged teeth, traveling into the bloodstream. Over time, this can actually cause heart disease and kidney failure.
Yes! You can help clean your pet’s teeth at home with:
- Dental water additives
- C.E.T Chews
- Pet dental wipes or pet tooth brushes (flavored toothpaste helps!)
- Prescription Treats
- Pet Dental Gel
Avoid the following as they can break teeth!
- Antlers
- Bones
- Hard plastic or nylon toys like nyla bones
Instead, use:
- C.E.T. Chews
- Rubber toys like Kongs
- Frozen wet food
- Silicone toys
- Rope toys (As long as they are not being shredded or eaten)
- Pig ears or digestible protein or keratin like hooves or bully sticks
Symptoms of periodontal disease may include:
- Bad breath
- Lethargy
- Salivating
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Decreased or loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Dropping food from mouth while eating
- Facial swelling
- Discharge from the nose or eyes
- Pawing at the face
- Teeth becoming loose or falling out
If you see any of the symptoms above, please schedule a visit with your regular veterinarian.
Some breeds are at a higher risk of periodontal disease than others. This can be due, in part, to poor breeding, not just lifestyle.
