Did you know around 85% of all pets over the age of 3 are suffering from some form of dental disease. Animals teeth decay much faster than humans and can become loose and rotten in a surprisingly short amount of time. This is not only unpleasant for your pet but also for you!
A healthy mouth should have bright white teeth and pink gums. After eating food particles accumulate to form a film of plaque over the teeth. Without brushing, or effective means of plaque removal, this film will mineralise and become tartar. This stage of dental disease is known as gingivitis. The affected gums will be darkened in colour and the animals breath may be very smelly.
If gingivitis progresses untreated it will lead to peridontitis where the infection spreads deep into the teeth and gums, this stage will eventually lead to tooth loss. Animals with bad teeth often have bacterial infections in their mouths which can spread around the body causing the animal to feel very unwell.
If gum problems are identified and treated before a tooth becomes loose the dental disease can be reversed. By doing a scale and polish and changing the diet and/or toothbrushing routine you can make a real difference to your pets dental health.
Feeding dry pet food kibbles rather than wet food is more effective at removing plaque on teeth. It also contain vitamin D and calcium to help strengthen teeth. Most of the dog foods sold in veterinary clinics are developed with oral health in mind, so feeding a high quality diet is the first and simplest step to take when improving your pets oral health
Contact us today for advice on dental health and disease prevention.
Brendan Kelly, Kelly Veterinary Clinic , 091 844918
