Hello, my name is Catherine. I have long loved animals and have had several of my own over the years. Sadly, I saw two of my cats suffer with feline cancer, one of my dogs had arthritis, and, of course, we faced the usual calamities and injuries pets often face. However, I have had to navigate this on a relatively restricted budget, and through the years, I have gotten quite proficient at that. I work at a library and love doing research on pets and veterinary care as well as a range of other topics. I also love to write so decided to put my info in a blog. Please, explore and enjoy!
Keeping Your animals Healthy and Happy Without Overspending
Pet Dentistry | 3 Actionable Strategies For Dealing With Pet Teeth and Gum Diseases
Ellen Lampi
Caring your pet's teeth is very similar to looking after your own teeth for preventing dental diseases and plaque. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is the first step of a smart dental program, because you'll want to protect the core bones and tissues that anchor your pet's teeth. Pet dentistry is an important part of overall pet care. This guide is designed to help you find quick resolutions when it comes to dealing with your pet's teeth and gum diseases before they turn into dental catastrophes.
Learn To Control Gum Disease
Proper plaque control and oral hygiene is essential for controlling gum disease. Discuss dietary solutions with your veterinarian for reducing plaque build-up. For example, raw ground bone is a good abrasive that acts like sandpaper to remove plaque on teeth –– check with your vet about the best diet solutions for reduced plaque. You may also want your pet to chew on certain objects that stimulate the secretion of saliva to fight plaque. Raw bones are perfect for encouraging saliva to tackle plaque build-up. Besides chewing and diet, daily brushing is the best way to reduce the excessive build-up of plaque and tartar. Since gum diseases are caused by build up of plaque, you can control gum diseases by maintaining healthy pet oral hygiene. It's also a good idea to plan a pet dentistry appointment at least once or twice a year to check the health of your pet's teeth and gums.
Look for Telltale Signs of Gum Disease
Similar to humans, gum disease for pets is caused because of built-up bacterial infection in plaque. Plaque contains saliva and food particles and easily adheres to the surface of teeth and gums. If not removed correctly, plaque will form tartar –– this could end up destroying bones and tissues. Signs of gum disease include loose teeth, discoloured teeth, receding gums, bleeding gums, bad breath and inability to eat or chew properly. These telltale signs will indicate that you will need pet dentistry immediately.
Visit the Dentist Immediately if You Suspect Gum Disease
If you notice gum disease signs, be sure to make a pet dentistry appointment immediately before a small problem becomes catastrophic. Gum disease treatment usually requires flushing, scaling and polishing for tartar and plaque removal. If there are any badly infected teeth, the dentist may need to remove them entirely, depending on the severity of the case. In some cases, teeth restoration and endodontic techniques may also be used to save your pet's teeth. By visiting the dentist immediately, you can prevent irreversible damage to your pet's teeth.
Pet dentistry is important in maintaining the overall health of your pet, so pay attention to these strategies for dealing with teeth and gum diseases.
Share