Animals need healthy mouths to remain healthy and happy animals!

Animals’ teeth and gum tissue respond in exactly the identical way as ours when threatened by infection and plaque so we must keep up a normal dental hygiene program for their health and well-being. 

Examine their mouth and teeth

If you can, gently pull back your furry friend’s lip and look at her or his teeth (wrigglers might need some assistance!).

• Can you see yellowish or brown plaque deposits on the teeth?
• Are there some other problems like chipped or cracked teeth?
• Check the gums – are they red or sore-looking?
• Does your pet often dribble saliva and shed meals when he/she is trying to eat?

In case your answer Is “yes” to any of these questions, then your pet requires some attention to his mouth.

It is easy to forget your pet’s teeth, but dental issues can lead to major health issues.

• Infection formed in the mouth can travel through the bloodstream and affect your pet’s vital organs, especially the kidneys and heart causing serious illness.

Eventually, you are going to be visiting the vet, possibly for dental work under anesthetic, possibly for something more severe – costly and stressful.

Fortunately, good dental hygiene Isn’t too hard to attain by following a similar plan of mine:

• Provide hard (dry) meals. There are lots of balanced diets available on the current market, many designed to aid with dental hygiene and exercise the teeth.
• Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly will definitely make a difference and believe it or not, lots of pets don’t mind it whatsoever! Start softly for a few moments and operate up to a full set of teeth!
• Hard and crunchy treats to assist with the removal of plaque and tartar are extremely popular with pets. My dog loves to stir carrots (great healthy veggies!) And there are many treats available for helping with great dental care.
• Toys designed to exercise the mouth are great – happy playtime and dental hygiene wrapped into one!
• Check regularly for continuous extremely bad breath – not simply ‘I’ve been eating something horrible’ breath. This might be a warning sign your pet might have something serious happening.
• When you visit your Vet for vaccination boosters your pet should have a professional dental pet checkup.

Little Pets

Rabbit and rodent owners, please assess your pet’s teeth regularly especially if they’re showing some of the indications above as their teeth grow continuously and your vet may need to reevaluate them.

If you are not convinced, think of it this way. A dog or cat year is equal to about five to seven human years. If your pet is just five years old, this is similar to a 25 to 35-year-old individual who hasn’t brushed their teeth or gone into a vet dentist!

One critical part of oral and overall health for dogs and cats is routine dental care. But most pets do not receive the oral hygiene care that they have to keep their gums and teeth healthy.

In our Citrus County, you’ll find complete dental care solutions for the pet, from principles such as dental exams, teeth cleanings, and polishing, to dental surgeries and x-rays.

We are also enthusiastic about teaching pet owners to dental health education and also the need for a good at-home oral care regimen.

Cats and dogs will often respond to dental processes by struggling or biting since they don’t know what’s happening. We provide anesthesia to all of our patients before performing dental procedures. This places less strain on animals and allows us to x-ray their mouth as necessary.

Our Citrus County vets give preventive and curative veterinary dental healthcare and operation for cats and dogs. Visit us here for more information.