Pet Dental Health Month – Keeping Beautiful Smiles Intact

Pet parenting comes with a lot of responsibility as pets are dependent on their parents for their needs and requirements, be it emotional or physical. Pets bring unconditional love and joy in our lives and keeping them healthy is worth it all. Along with taking care of other things, their dental hygiene is one of the most significant aspects of their overall health and there is no better occasion to address this area than Pet Dental Health Month.
This blog explains the role of Pet Dental Health Month in keeping up with your pet’s dental health and tips to maintain your pet’s oral health.
Importance of Pet Dental Health Month
August is Pet Dental Health Month. It is intended to raise awareness of dental health in pets and make efforts to take care of their dental hygiene.
The Dental Health of pets is as important as their physical health, yet it is overlooked. It is a critical aspect of their overall well-being. Lack of dental hygiene can lead to pain and discomfort and can also affect critical organs if left unattended. As pets cannot vocalize their pain or discomfort like us, we should take charge of understanding their issues and keep their wide smiles intact.
Types of dental problems in pets
Pets experience different dental problems which are mentioned below:
- Gum disease
- Broken teeth
- Tartar and plaque buildup
- Misalignment of teeth
- Periodontal disease
- Gingivitis and stomatitis
Causes of dental problems in pets
Dental problems in pets mostly begin with tartar and plaque buildup. Unlike us, our pets don’t brush or floss every day leading to the buildup of tartar or plaque causing various dental problems. Lack of proper oral hygiene result in accumulation of bacteria in the mouth and leaves your pet in pain and discomfort.
Signs & Symptoms of dental problems in pets
Here are some of the most common signs of dental issues in pets. Let’s have a look:
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
- Loss of appetite
- Excess salivation
- Ulcerated lesions at the back of mouth & tongue
- Bad or foul-smelling breath
- Low energy
- Mood changes
- Dull coat
- Changes in chewing pattern
- Yellow or brown teeth color
Maintaining oral hygiene of pets
It is inevitable to treat and prevent dental problems and keep your furry friends’ smiles shining bright. We have got some easy tips through which you can maintain your pets’ oral hygiene:
- Regular brushing: Brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis with a pet-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste would help keep their mouth clean, bacteria-free and bad breath away.
- Dental chews: Dental chews are an effective way to eliminate plaque and tartar buildup in pets. They help in keeping the gums healthy and maintain the overall oral health of pets. You can also add it up with pet toys or treats that are soft and can easily be chewed.
- Eye on symptoms: Always closely observe the signs and symptoms of dental problems that your pet is experiencing so that you can treat and prevent them, if any, without delay.
- Routine vet checkups: If you find your pet in pain or discomfort during chewing, get professional help without any second thought to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment. You should also consider taking them for routine dental checkups twice or thrice a year to avoid any asymptomatic diseases.
Wrapping Up
A healthy pet is a happy pet, so this Pet Dental Health Month, let’s focus on educating ourselves and everyone around us and making efforts to keep our pet’s dental health a priority. Work on focusing on the signs that your pet indicate in case of any discomfort and commit to providing them with the best treatment and care to secure their smiles.