Watch Out For The "Warning Signs" Of Periodontal Disease

Pets have teeth, too – like humans, they need regular dental care. Dirty teeth and bad breath are not only unappealing, but most pet guardians do not realize that they can lead to serious gum disease. Periodontal disease is not only bad for oral health, but it has also been linked to the overall health of pets. Plaque and tartar contain bacteria that under the gum line gain access to blood vessels to travel to other parts of the body. We routinely see pets with chronic bronchitis, chronic kidney insufficiency, liver disease, heart disease and brain abscesses that trace back to unhealthy gums. By age three, 80 percent of all dogs and 70 percent of all cats have some form of periodontal disease.

Your pet does not need to demonstrate any of the warning signs to be suffering from dental disease; however, if your pet has any of these symptoms, periodontal disease may be present:

• Bad breath
• A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
• Red, swollen gums
• Pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
• Decreased appetite or difficulty eating

Our veterinarians can evaluate your pet's oral health and temperament to determine if a professional non-anesthetic dental cleaning is right for them. Pets with extensive periodontal disease, those that require extractions or reconstructive techniques, will require full anesthetic procedures.

Pets that receive routine dental care, on average, live five years longer than pets that do not!

Traditionally, veterinarians perform complete dental care services while a pet is under general anesthesia. But what if a guardian is worried about the risk of anesthesia or if the pet is not a suitably healthy candidate for anesthesia? Our hospitals have partnered with "Pet Friendly Dental Care" to provide a new innovation in pet dentistry. We now offer a seven-step professional teeth cleaning, performed without the use of anesthesia. Pet guardians can choose this alternative method for cleaning teeth and maintaining their pet's dental health at a lower cost than traditional full anesthesia dental care. A thoroughly trained and highly qualified dental technician performs a complete teeth cleaning, including sub-gingival scaling and machine polishing while keeping the pet in a gentle holding position used in non-anesthetic dentistry.

"Most importantly, patience and a gentle calm way with animals are what make our dental technicians successful; gaining the complete trust and confidence of your pet, allowing us to perform a thorough teeth cleaning."

Please feel free to call (561) 496-1700 to schedule an appointment for your pet's evaluation.