Pet Dental Health is Important!

Periodontal disease is a frequent problem seen in veterinary practices. Primary-care veterinary practices, where diagnosis of periodontal disease is predominantly based on visual oral assessment of conscious dogs, report an average prevalence of 9.3 to 18.2% within the dog population.¹ Oral health should not be neglected. Good oral hygiene can prevent certain health issues that dogs and cats can have. Here are some of them:

• Painful chewing
• Tooth loss
• Reduced appetite/refusal to eat
• Oral pain
• Bleeding gums
• Irritability

Most importantly, bacteria in the gum lining may make their way into the pet’s bloodstream and infect bodily organs such as the liver and kidneys. It may sound silly, but brushing your pet’s teeth a few nights a week can really make a difference. If your pet has dental issues, remember we are here to help. We can examine him or her and come up with a treatment plan based on the specific situation.

Reference:

1. Shirahata S, Iwashita N, Sasaki R, et al. Possible association of fimA genotype of Porphyromonas gulae with the severity of periodontal disease and the number of permanent teeth in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2023 Feb 6;10:1022838.

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