If you asked a room full of vets what advice they would give to pet-parents to help their furbabies enjoy a happy and healthy life, there is one answer you will hear time and again….
Please look after your pet’s teeth!
Dental health and hygiene are often overlooked but should be recognised as highly important.
Regular dental care for our animal companions is proven to impact both the quality and longevity of their lives. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) states that:
“Dental, oral, and maxillofacial diseases are by far the most common problem facing small animal practice. These conditions create significant pain, as well as localized and potentially systemic infection. As such, the WSAVA believes that un- and under treated dental disease poses a significant animal welfare concern”
Us humans understand that a visit to the dentist may not be top of our “fun things to do” list but we also understand the necessity and know that things can get a lot uglier when we skip the checkup and wait for the toothache.
The same applies for our pets.
Pet-parents can consider what can be done at home (e.g. diet, chew toys and possibly brushing) and what they may need to schedule with the experts.
Regular dental checkups bring many benefits including:
- Keeping teeth clean
- Removing plaque
- Promoting (relatively) fresh breath…
But also, a regular checkup will:
- Prevent initially simple to solve dental issues developing into life threatening conditions (untreated dental issues are an “access all areas” invitation for nasty bacteria to enter your pet’s system)
- Alleviate the threat or impact of chronic, debilitating toothache
- Remove damaged or worn teeth that may create further issues and lead to decay, gum problems and the more serious end of the infection spectrum
The list continues but the picture is clear…. Healthy teeth and gums are good!
“Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats and is entirely preventable. By three years of age, most dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, other than bad breath, there are few signs of the disease process evident to the owner, and professional dental cleaning and periodontal therapy often comes too late to prevent extensive disease or to save teeth”. American Veterinary Dental College
FYI – most is statistically understood to be 80 – 85% of dogs and cats over the age of three….!
Veterinary professionals want to help change the numbers and make unnecessary dental issues the exception not the norm…. so please book your pet in for a regular checkup and take advantage of professional, effective veterinary dental care.
Dr. Katrin is the founder of the German Veterinary Clinic. Her passion and commitment to delivering the highest standards of animal care as well as her extensive knowledge and experience has enabled the clinic to expand and flourish.
Dr Katrin is currently a resident in Veterinary Behaviour Medicine of both the European as well as American College of Animal Welfare and Behaviour Medicine and is the first (and only) veterinarian in the Middle East to specialize in this field. This means that GVC is the only clinic that can treat the mental, emotional and physical health of all our pet-patients.
