A Dentist can be Your Pet's Best Friend

If you have a pet or multiple pets living in your home, chances are you already know about the need to help them keep their teeth and gums healthy with a trip to the dentist. Just like humans, cats and dogs can suffer from tooth decay and gum disease. As with your people companions, when teeth and gums go unchecked and are unhealthy it can lessen their quality of life and can cause serious health problems.

There are ways to recognize when your cat or dog may be having an issue with their teeth or gums. One of the first signs to look for is a change in their diet or eating behavior. If they aren't eating as much as they once did or eat more slowly, this could be a simple way to recognize that they are having trouble chewing. Sometimes it is difficult to monitor this behavior, though, as pets can mask their chewing habits or eat when you aren't watching. If you are suspicious at all, you should contact your veterinarian or pet dentist.

Another less than pleasant sign that you can watch, or smell for, is bad breath. Most people would agree that pets in general have less than stellar breath. However, pets suffering from tooth decay, tartar build-up or gum disease will have particularly strong or foul smelling breath. It should be extremely noticeable, something that is difficult for you to ignore when your dog or cat opens their mouth to clean themselves, yawn or similar behavior.

Usually, this is something that your vet can check for during your next pet exam. They will take time to look in your dog or cat's mouth, examining their gums and looking at all of their teeth. Commonly, tartar buildup is a problem with older pets, so as your pet ages you will find your vet more carefully watching for problems. If your vet finds tartar buildup on a younger pet and signs of gum disease, you can expect that they will want you to schedule with a dentist right away.

It is important for you to help your pet practice good dental hygiene by regularly brushing their teeth for them. There are also many animal dentist recommended treats that can do some of the work for you. Talk to your vet before starting your pet on a new diet. Changing your pet's food can cause stomach upset and other problems for your animal companion.

The important thing to know is that, like people, dental problems in animals are somewhat avoidable. Although some breeds are more apt to have dental issues, overall good hygiene can keep your pet healthy and you out of the veterinarian's clinic. Look for gentle finger brushes and liver and chicken flavored tooth pastes.

Talk to your veterinarian today about how to practice good dental hygiene for your pet. They can give you plenty of suggestions that keep your pet healthy and keep you from having to make a dentist appointment.