February is pet dental health month! The month is about prioritizing your pet’s teeth as much as you prioritize your own. Your pet needs their teeth to go about their daily activities. Eating, hunting, and even play involve the use of their teeth. 

Stinky breath, red gums, or yellow teeth can lead to oral disease. Oral diseases can strip your pet of a good quality of life. It will leave them miserable, in pain, without an appetite, and hungry. Here are a few points on why it is crucial to take care of your pet’s dental health.

Prevent Tooth Loss

Infections can damage your pet’s gums and teeth. Teeth can loosen and fall out. Prioritizing your pet’s dental health will ensure that their gums and teeth stay healthy. 

When the structures that hold their teeth are healthy and sturdy, your pet can eat and play without problems. When your pet cannot eat, it can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can lead to other health concerns. 

Prevent Halitosis or Bad Breath

If you catch a whiff of your pet’s breath and it makes your nose hairs curl, that’s halitosis. It means that it is time for a dental health check. Halitosis or bad breath could be a sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease. It shows that bacteria are building up in their mouth and causing problems.

Prevent Cavities

When bacteria begin building up in your pet’s mouth, they form plaque. Plaque coats the surface of their teeth, calcifies, and turns into tartar. As the bacteria make the plaque and tartar, they produce acid that erodes the enamel and causes cavities. Cavities are painful and may result in tooth loss.

Prevent Pain

Cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease can cause oral pain for your pet. Pets cannot communicate their pain as effectively as human beings can. Thus, take care of your pet’s dental health to ensure they do not go through anguish. To know if your pet is in pain, look out for these things:

• Bad breath.
• Loose teeth.
• Broken teeth.
• Bleeding gums.
• Drooling.
• Refusal to drink or eat.

Prevent Periodontal Disease

Tartar can cause infection and inflammation of your pet’s gums. The gums may begin to recede, leaving the teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities. The inflammation and infection can also lead to gingivitis, causing your pet to lose teeth.

If you do not deal with gingivitis, it will develop into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can cause complications in other organs. But if you understand the importance of dental health for your pet, you can avoid periodontal disease.

Prevent Organ Damage

Bacteria that cause plaque and periodontal disease can get into your pet’s bloodstream. As it travels in the bloodstream, it can end up in some organs. These include the liver, heart, and kidneys. This process of bacteremia can cause organ damage, making your pet sick. Good dental health will prevent your pet from developing complications from bacteremia.

To prevent all the above, brush your pet’s teeth and take them to the vet for proper cleaning. Make time for that this month.

For more on the importance of pet dental care, visit Port Royal Veterinary Hospital at our office in Port Royal, South Carolina. You can call (843) 379-7387 today to schedule an appointment.