Good oral care is essential for your pet's overall health, yet it is often overlooked by pet parents. New Hope Animal Hospital in Durham, NC, is here to help you understand the importance of pet dental care and provide some facts you should know about animal dental care.

Periodontal Disease Is the Most Common Dental Problem in Pets

Periodontal disease is a serious bacterial infection that affects the gums, bones, and tissues around the teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and other serious health problems such as heart disease, liver disease, and kidney failure.

Dental Disease Is Preventable

The best way to prevent dental disease is to brush your pet's teeth regularly. This helps remove plaque and tartar, which can lead to gum disease. You should also have your pet's teeth professionally cleaned at an animal hospital at least once a year.

Pets Need Regular Dental Check-Ups

Just like humans, pets need regular dental check-ups to ensure their teeth and gums are healthy. During a cat dental or dog dental exam, our veterinarian will check for signs of periodontal disease and other problems, such as tooth decay or oral tumors.

Pets Can Get Cavities

Pets can develop cavities, just like humans. Cavities occur when plaque and tartar build up on the teeth and lead to tooth decay. Cavities can be painful and may require treatment by a cat dental or dog dental specialist.

Bad Breath Is a Sign Of Dental Disease

If your pet has bad breath, it could be a sign of dental disease. Plaque and tartar build-up can cause bad breath, so it's important to brush your pet's teeth regularly and have their teeth professionally cleaned by a veterinarian.

Dental X-Rays

Dental x-rays are an important part of pet dental care. They help veterinarians detect problems that cannot be seen with the naked eye, such as tooth decay, infection, or oral tumors. Moreover, dental x-rays help your veterinarian create a treatment plan for your pet's dental care.

Anesthesia

Pets need to be under anesthesia for most dental procedures, such as teeth cleaning, scaling, and polishing. This is because the animal must be still during the procedure and cannot be given pain medication. Modern veterinary medicine has made anesthesia much safer than it was in the past. Your veterinarian will carefully monitor your pet during and after the procedure to ensure their safety.

Visit Our Animal Hospital Today for Pet Dental Care

Good oral care is important for your pet's overall health. Dental disease can lead to other serious health problems, such as heart disease, liver disease, and kidney failure. Therefore, it’s important to brush your pet's teeth regularly and have their teeth professionally cleaned by a veterinarian at least once a year. If you have any questions about animal dental care, please do not hesitate to contact New Hope Animal Hospital in Durham, NC, by calling (919) 490-2000.