Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Some Dental Fun Facts & Tips for Your Pet’s Bright Smile and Health

A good dental health of your dog or a cat is an indication of good overall health. It is always said that the mouth is the starting point of all the diseases. And if it is kept cleaned, then you can get control of most diseases that arise from the dental neglect.



It’s always a good time to brush your furry pal’s teeth, which is mostly neglected by many pet owners. Browse through some of the facts that keep you intact when it comes to your pet’s dental hygiene.

Baby cats and dogs have full set of teeth that would be replaced with adult teeth (permanent) – similarly to us. However, in some cases, a baby tooth is retained even after the permanent tooth are erupted. If you find that your puppy or kitten has retained the baby tooth, it is wise to get them removed may be when they are neutered or spayed at 6 months of age. With your concern, your veterinarian is likely to remove it during surgery.

Dogs have 42 permanent teeth whereas cats have 30. When compared with humans, most adults have 32 permanent teeth. This doesn’t mean to avoid teeth brushing.

Normally, it is believed that dog’s mouth is not cleaner when compared to humans. On the contrary, the fact remains that dog’s mouth is much cleaner. Moreover, the bacteria present in a dog’s teeth are different than the bacteria in human’s mouth.

80% dogs and 70% cats struggle with periodontal diseases before they reach adulthood due to the lack of proper dental care. This makes gum diseases the most common problem seen in dogs and cats – though it can be controlled completely.

Two-thirds of the dog’s teeth lay under the gums and most of the diseases starts here at the gumline, where you can’t see. Added to this, usually dental X-rays are required to locate the problems such as tooth resorption in cats and tooth root abscesses.

The most common pet’s dental problem is bad breath, which sometimes is also referred as doggy’s breath. Other signs are 
Facial swelling
Pawing in the mouth
Reluctance to chew hard food, bones or toys
Loose or missing teeth
Reddened, receding or bleeding gums
Nasal discharge
Irritability or other personality changes
Increased salivation (drooling), possibly with blood
Sneezing

Ignoring pet’s dental care creates a more risk for your pet not limiting to just your pet’s mouth. Diseased gums can’t restrict bacteria to enter the pet’s bloodstream. Once inside, bacteria can reach to vital organs like heart, kidney, liver and badly affects them.

Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly is the single most important thing that you need to follow in between the professional dental cleaning of your furry pal to protect them from oral problems.

Never use human toothpaste for your pet. Specially designed toothpaste and toothbrush are available for pets, which are approved by vets. These are predominantly developed for pets as they can’t spit and end up swallowing the toothpaste. 

If it’s been a long since you have professional dental checkup or cleaning for your dog or a cat, it is time to get an appointment. And, if you have already up with the regular checkups then don’t miss on regular dental cleaning of your furry pal.

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