February is Pet Dental Month
Our pet’s dental hygiene is just as important as having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated regularly, and having annual check-ups performed by their veterinarian. Healthy oral hygiene in pets helps to prevent many different illnesses and health issues from arising later in life. When our pet’s teeth are not frequently and properly cleaned it allows for tartar to build up. Tartar can lead to tooth decay, which if not treated can lead to severe infections in the mouth that are both painful and harmful to your pet’s overall health. Aside from tooth decay, tartar holds bacteria which is ingested by the pet and could lead to some very serious health problems such as renal failure and congestive heart failure.
Although pet dentals can be a bit on the pricey side, keeping up on their oral hygiene can essentially save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. By scheduling routine-annual check-ups, your veterinarian can suggest when your pet may need his or her teeth cleaned. Most veterinarians offer a special on dentals and discount them one month out of the year – typically the entire month of February, which is why February is Pet Dental Month! Having a dental performed as recommended by your veterinarian not only eliminates unnecessary pain and suffering, but it helps save you money! Preventive care and early detection save pet owners the hassle of being hit with enormous vet bills later in the pet’s life, and it helps pets to live longer, happier, healthier lives.
Aside from in between dentals, you might be wondering “What can I do to help make sure that my pet has good oral hygiene?” There are several very simple solutions that can all be done at home. Durable chew toys and teeth cleaning treats work wonders in aiding to keep your pet’s smile bright and shiny.
Making sure that your pet’s diet consists of a high-quality kibble (dry food) will also help to keep those pearly whites as bright as can be. Good chew toys and occasional treats may help to naturally chip away at existing tartar buildup and assist to prevent the formation of new buildup. Another good tip is trying to refrain from overfeeding pets canned or wet food. Although wet food is super yummy to our pets, a lot of canned or wet food can do a lot of damage to your pet’s teeth by quickly adding excessive tartar. Not only that, canned or wet food is less nutritious than dry food and may cause rapid weight gain and lead to other life-threatening health conditions. Lastly, it wouldn’t hurt to every so often, maybe once or twice a month, brush your pet’s teeth with a soft and pet friendly toothbrush and some yummy chicken or beef flavored toothpaste. Good chew toys, treats, high quality dog food, and other pet oral hygiene products can be purchased at our local Petco, PetSmart, Costco, and Tractor Supply Company locations, and through your family veterinarian.
To see if your pet could benefit from having a routine dental examination, or to benefit from lower-cost pet dentals for Pet Dental Month, get ahead of the game and make sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian today to get an appointment in February for Pet Dental Month!
