AgouraVet.com - Agoura Hills Animal Hospital

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

National Pet Dental Health Month was developed to promote awareness of an often overlooked aspect of pet care - maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Oral disease is the most diagnosed health problem for dogs and cats visiting veterinary hospitals today. Studies show that by age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of gum disease! Gum disease can cause your pet pain, possible loss of teeth and the bacterial infection in the gum tissue can enter your pet's bloodstream and affect vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.

The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends the following three step plan to help you maintain good oral health for your pet:

Have your pet examined by a veterinarian.
As part of your pet's physical exam, the teeth will be examined for plaque and tartar buildup and the gums will be examined for signs of infection. If there is a problem, a dental cleaning may be recommended. Even when a small amount of tartar is present on the teeth, gum infection has already begun.
Start a dental care routine a home.
Removing plaque and tartar regularly is an important part of dental disease prevention. We can suggest steps and show procedures on how to keep your pet's teeth clean. There are even specifically formulated diets for your dog and cat to reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar. We will be glad to formulate a dental care plan that will work for you and your pet.
Take your pet for regular veterinary dental checkups.
Plaque builds up continuously on your pet's teeth. Regular checkups will allow us to monitor the progress of your preventative dental care routine and assure that any problems with your pet's teeth are addressed in a timely manner.

Home Care Tips Introduce a brushing program gradually. At first, dip a finger into beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats. Rub the finger gently over the pet's mouth and teeth. Make sessions short and positive, gradually moving up to using gauze or a small piece of cloth and gently scrubbing in a circular motion. Finally, you can introduce a soft toothbrush designed for pets. Don't use toothpaste designed for people because it will upset your pet's stomach.

Please contact us for more information.