By Ashley Helmrich, Homestead Garden’s Animal Nutrition Expert.
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It is stated by the American Veterinary Dental Society that approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats will develop some form of oral disease by the age of three. Therefore, it’s so important to keep your pet’s oral health as a top priority.
One of the best ways to assess your pets overall health is to look at their oral health. Pets tend to get tartar build up on their teeth which can result in serious diseases such as periodontal disease. Tartar build up can be caused by several different factors, but this disease will erode the gums and can result in bad breath, bleeding gums and pain. Please take a look at these warning signs to assess your pets dental health.
Warning Signs of Dental Disease:
- Bad breath or excessive drooling
- Tartar at the gum line
- Bleeding or red gums
- Swelling of the face
- Chewing on one side of mouth
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
Keep in mind that oral issues can eventually lead to: Gingivitis, Heart Disease, Lung Disease, and Kidney Disease, so prevention is the best option to help your pet.
Here are a few things to help you prevent oral disease and keep them healthy:
- Brush your pet’s teeth regularly
- Maintain fresh breath between brushings and vet visits – water additives that help fight bacteria
- Provide dental toys or dental chews that help control bad breath, fight tartar and plaque.
- Take your pet to the Vet for a dental exam at least yearly.