National Pet Dental Health Month
- Ziggy, Professional Cat Blogger
- Feb 3
- 3 min read
More Than Love And Romance
February isn’t just about love and romance, it’s also a time to focus on the dental health of our beloved pets. As National Pet Dental Health Month, February is an annual reminder of the importance of oral care for our furry companions. At Companion Veterinary Mobile Center we want to delve into why pet dental health matters and how you can ensure your pet’s smile shines bright all year round!
Why Pet Dental Health Care Is Important
We go to the dentist to avoid dental problems and keep our teeth and gums healthy. Pets can suffer from the same dental problems we do. They may develop plaque and tartar build-up, gum disease, and tooth decay. Your pet may also experience:
Infected or abscessed teeth
Broken teeth
Periodontal (gum) disease
Oral cysts
Oral tumors
Neglecting your pet’s dental hygiene can lead to serious health consequences for them. Pet dental disease can even lead to other systemic health problems. Bacteria that’s built up in their mouths can make its way into their bloodstream, causing lung, heart, kidney, and liver problems.
Signs That Your Pet Needs Professional Dental Care
Your pet may develop:
Bad breath
Discolored teeth
Broken teeth
Swollen gums
Bleeding gums or teeth as a result of dental disease. Pets easily mask their pain, so pain and discomfort won’t always be obvious, but your pet may:
Drool
Have a decreased appetite
Refuse to eat
Drop food instead of eating it
If any of these symptoms appear, it’s important to schedule an appointment with us at Companion Veterinary Mobile Center!
Dental Care All Year Long
Prevention is as important as cure, so it’s important to get into a regular routine of providing good dental care for your pet. Ideally, their teeth should be brushed or wiped daily. If that’s not possible, then it should be done at least three or four times a week. When caring for your pet’s teeth at home:
Use the right size toothbrush (specifically for a dog or cat)
Use wipes approved for pet dental care
Use only pet-safe toothpaste
Make sure your pet eats the right diet
Offer your pet dental-friendly treats and chews
The primary goal is to eliminate plaque from your pet’s teeth. Plaque builds up and becomes tarter, which can be removed above the gumline, but causes significant damage below it. Advanced periodontal disease can even damage the jaw itself. It’s imperative not to let your pet’s oral health deteriorate to that stage.
Professional Pet Dental Care
During your pet’s annual wellness visit, Dr. Ambros will examine their teeth and mouth as part of their check-up. She will look for signs of:
Infection
Inflammation in the gums
Bleeding gums or teeth
Congenital issues including a cleft palate
If your pet needs dental care, they will require anesthesia. Although it may seem extreme, administering anesthesia before performing even simple procedures like a pet dental cleaning eliminates stress and fear for them as well as ensuring they don’t move during the procedure and cause more damage to their mouths.
Companion Veterinary Mobile Center
As a mobile vet, we at Companion Veterinary Mobile center can provide great dental care for your pet, right at your home. We will initially do an examination to look for oral health concerns. We are very experienced in providing proper dental care and anesthesia, and we’ll make our recommendations to help prevent other health problems from developing. We offer a range of products from tooth paste, water additives, and oral rinse and can provide you with samples as well to see what works best for you and your pet. Call us today at 941-787-9224 or request an appointment online at https://www.companionvetmobile.com/request-appointment.
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