When we think about our pets’ health all too often we forget about a vital part of their wellbeing – their dental care. As a species that are routinely taught to brush our own teeth twice a day, we really ought to make more effort to ensure that our animals’ teeth are as healthy as our own. Some of the symptoms of poor oral care in pets include:
Weight loss. Infected gums and tooth pain can result in a reduced appetite and significant weight loss.
Bad breath due to neglected teeth and gums.
Dirty, stained teeth that could be harboring bacteria.
Heart, kidney and liver disease which can all arise from untreated dental infections.
Premature death. Bad teeth and gums can actually shorten the life expectancy of your pet.
One of the primary causes of these problems is gum disease which sees the bacteria-harboring plaque and tartar accumulating on your pets’ teeth. This can, in turn, infect the gum tissue, causing pain and potential tooth loss. The bacteria can also enter the blood stream and cause damage to their internal organs, which untreated can lead to organ failure and eventually death.
Cats
Research has shown that dental disease is the primary health concern for cats, with around 70% of felines aged over 3 experiencing some form of dental problem. Between 4 and 6 months of age kittens lose their baby teeth and develop their permanent ones. Once the permanent ones are present your cat should have around 30 teeth.
Some of the symptoms of dental disease in cats include:
Drooling
Bad breath
Decreased appetite
Discolored teeth
Blood in the saliva
Bleeding, red or swollen gums
Weight loss
Receding gums
Broken or missing teeth
As with cats, brushing your dogs’ teeth as a part of their regular daily routine can help prevent the onset of oral decay. There are plenty of canine brushing kits available, or alternatively you could use gauze wrapped around your fingers. Again, make sure you purchase special pet toothpaste as human toothpaste can make them very sick.
It is vitally important for you to carry on your cat’s dental care at home. There are a variety of brushing kits available that usually include a finger brush, small pet toothbrush and special toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste on your pets’ teeth. Make brushing your cats’ teeth an integral part of their daily routine to ensure that you are providing the best preventative care to dental disease possible.
Dogs
Doggy dental care is also extremely important. Most adult dogs will have 42 teeth by the time they are 7 or 8 months old but many show signs of gum disease by the time they are 4 years old due to a lack of proper cleaning.
Symptoms of poor dental or oral health can include:
- Excessive drooling
- Inflamed or red gums
- Loose teeth
- Cysts under the tongue
- Tumours in the gum
- Particularly bad breath
As with cats, brushing your dogs’ teeth as a part of their regular daily routine can help prevent the onset of oral decay. There are plenty of canine brushing kits available, or alternatively you could use gauze wrapped around your fingers. Again, make sure you purchase special pet toothpaste as human toothpaste can make them very sick.
