By Dr. Brandon McKim
February is just around the corner, and some of you may already be dreaming of special Valentine’s dinner dates, stuffed teddy bears, chocolates, and flowers. But, while you are worried about your Valentine’s Day breath, let us not forget about our pet’s breath.
That’s right! February belongs to veterinary dental health month too. And bad breath can be one of the first indicators that your pet has dental disease. It’s estimated that 70 to 80 percent of cats and dogs have dental disease by the age of three. So, if your pet’s breath could gag a maggot, knock a buzzard off a compost pile, or drop a canary at 20 yards, let’s get those teeth checked!
Dental disease can be painful and lead to bigger health issues like liver, kidney, and heart disease. And because pets can’t really tell us that something hurts, we need to be on the lookout for other signs of dental disease like: tartar build up, drooling, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, inflamed gums, and picky eating.
Simple things like brushing their teeth, providing dental chews, using water additives, having annual dental check-ups, and regular dental cleanings can make a big difference in the quality of your pet’s life.
This February, let’s show our pets some love and get those teeth checked!