TRUTH: pets do not brush, floss, or rinse their own mouths and most owners don’t do it for them either! YUCK!!!! No wonder stinky breath (halitosis) is a common problem for many pets. The bacteria in their mouth causes gingivitis, plaque, tartar and can lead to REALLY bad infections.
TRUTH: most pets require yearly dental cleanings after the age of three….just like us, an annual cleaning is ideal to keep our pet’s mouth healthy. Some pets are anatomically and genetically more prone to dental disease and actually require twice yearly cleanings.
TRUTH: the longer dental care is delayed the more serious the problem becomes….besides the superficial issues of appearance and odor, the longer the bacteria sits in your pet’s mouth, the longer that bacteria has to develop deeper infections. It starts at the gum line (gingiva), travels down to the root, then teeth begin to loosen and bone destruction of the jaw starts. Next, the bacteria penetrates through the damaged gums into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. The infection can then set up in the major organs (heart, lungs, liver and kidneys) causing the organs to fail and creates a chronic infection hindering the bodies’ ability to fight off diseases. Left undetected & untreated, the TRUTH is that DENTAL DISEASE CAN LEAD TO DEATH!!!!
TRUTH: FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!!!! What better time than NOW to book your pet’s dental cleaning???!!! At East Bay Animal Hospital, we do dental cleanings ALL YEAR ROUND, but in February we offer a 15% discount to celebrate the importance of pet dental health care and to encourage owners to get their pets teeth cleaned……space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today!!!
TRUTH: home dental care can improve your pet’s oral health….once the mouth is clean and healthy again, there are several options to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard and there are many different types of toothbrushes designed for pets, even a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger will work! Always be sure to use a toothpaste that is formulated for pets because human toothpaste has detergents and fluoride, which are not meant for ingestion. If brushing just can’t be done, there are dental treats and diet, dental water additives, dental wipes, and dental sprays to help keep bacterial buildup down. Some of the products we recommend are as follows:
CALL US or BOOK ONLINE your pet’s FREE DENTAL EVALUATION right away!!! – we will examine your pets mouth for FREE and design a treatment plan specifically for them!!!
