Patton Veterinary Hospital Celebrates Dental Health Month

Why Does My Pet Need to Have His Teeth Cleaned?

            February has long been designated as Dental Health Month for pets, but dental care is an important and often overlooked part of keeping your pet healthy and should be practiced year-round.

            Dogs and cats do need routine dental care just like people.  While it may not be practical to clean pet’s teeth every six months, cleanings every 1-3 years should be the norm for most of our patients, and, using some form of home dental care can keep your pet’s mouth healthy between cleanings.  Brushing is best, but, not all pets tolerate a toothbrush in their mouths, so, other methods like oral rinses, additives that you put in drinking water or a variety of dental treats and chews can be used to keep your pet’s teeth in tip top shape.

            “So, why do I need to have my pet’s teeth cleaned?” you might ask.  Routine cleanings can help to identify early problems and prevent periodontal disease and tooth loss leading to a happier, healthier pet.  Dogs and cats are masters at hiding pain.  Most will not stop eating or show any outward signs of problems even when they have loose and infected teeth.  However, most clients whose pets have undergone a dental cleaning where infected or loose teeth are extracted notice a huge difference in their pets’ behavior once their mouths have healed.  They say their pets seem much more active, eat better and just generally feel better.

            Everyone understandably worries about the anesthesia that is necessary to perform a proper assessment and cleaning of the teeth and also about loss of teeth.  We certainly strive to make any anesthesia procedure as safe as possible for your pet, and, frankly, any anesthetic risk is far less than the health complications and discomfort that go along with severe dental disease. 

Trust me when I say, veterinarians do not enjoy extracting teeth and our goal is the same as yours:  preserve the teeth.  However, by the same token, we also know it benefits no one, least of all the pet, to leave loose, infected or otherwise compromised teeth in the pet’s mouth.  Bad teeth cause pain and can lead to serious health issues compromising liver, kidney and heart function when bacteria from dental infections enter the bloodstream.  So, if we say your pet needs to have a tooth extracted, it is serious business and we do not take it lightly.  We don’t want to extract teeth, but sometimes it is necessary and beneficial to the health of your pet. 

            Dental care is an important part of your pet’s overall health.  Keeping the mouth clean and healthy promotes a healthy body and will keep your pet feeling good and smiling for years to come!

            This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.