When it comes to dog dental health, many pet owners are still behind the curve. Although more and more are checking in for yearly anesthetic dentals by their veterinarians, others are still hesitant to spend the money. Many of us find it difficult to keep up a tooth brushing routine. Whatever the reason, we need to remember that dog dental health is important. In fact, it’s probably more important to your dog’s overall health than you realize.
Dog Dental Health Issue #1 – Bad Breath
While dogs aren’t known for having the freshest breath of animals, they can really start knocking us out when it comes to poor dental health. One of the most overlooked signs of periodontal disease in dogs is bad breath. Many owners assume that bad breath is something dogs just naturally have. But, this is definitely cause for concern if your dog’s breath is exceptionally terrible. Catching periodontal disease in the beginning is important and preventing it is even better. It’s your job as their dog mom and dad to keep a close eye on this trademark dog dental health redflag.
Dog Dental Health Issue #2 – Tooth & Gum Decay
Left untreated, periodontal disease will start to cause a lot of damage to your dog’s mouth. Plaque and tartar will begin to develop underneath the gum line, which begins to eat away and deteriorate the tooth and the tissue around it. This will eventually lead to gum decay, tooth loss and even abscesses. Even minor periodontal disease is painful to our dogs, so severe progression can cause a lot of discomfort.
(At iHeartDogs, we’ve spent the last 12 months studying this issue in detail. We understand that many dog owners need more education around dental health. We recently released our Grain Free Triple Enyzme Dental Chews that can be a helpful tool in the arsenal against periodontal disease.)
Dog Dental Health Issue #3 – Systemic Changes
Outside of affecting your dog’s teeth and gums, dogs have also suffered from painful bone loss in the jaw because of severe periodontal disease. Further, studies have shown that periodontal disease doesn’t only affect your dog’s mouth. Microscopic changes are seen in the heart, liver and kidneys – all important parts of your dog’s body! This suggests that they may be at a higher risk for organ disease. In humans, poor dental health has also been shown to worsen the control of diabetes mellitus and even increase the risk for onset.
Dog dental health is important to the overall health and well-being of all of our dogs. The best medicine is prevention. Keep brushing your dog’s teeth, offering dental chews and checking in with your veterinarian regularly. Making sure they your dog doesn’t begin to suffer this painful and potentially deadly disease is key to success. Make working towards excellent dental health a regular part of your life with your dog.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional.
Toledo, United States.
