February is Dental Health Month for pets so we will are gearing up with a PUPDATE for our Wags Fam, as well as some promotions, coupons, and other fun stuff - for all of those goodies, sign up for our monthly newsletter “The Scoop” right HERE!
And in the meantime, we’re going to dig into Dog Dental Health 101. We’ll be covering signs and symptoms, consequences, and lastly prevention and progress. Despite February being pet dental health month, this is an important topic as it’s estimated the up to 80% of dogs have significant dental health issues (Source: PetMD).
For any more advice, help, resources, or goodies that we talk about in this article, always know that we are available for help in person! Stop by your local Wags to Wiskers Pet Supplies stores in the Ann Arbor, MI area (2270 W. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103) or the Chelsea, MI area (1192 S. Main St, Chelsea, MI, 48118) to speak with an expert.
Dog Dental Health 101
For us, this minicourse on dog dental health basics can be broken into three parts. Let’s talk about the signs and symptoms first!
Signs & Symptoms of Poor Dental Health
These top clinical symptoms of poor dental health observed by dog owners include:
Bad breath
Red, swollen or bleeding gums
Increased drooling
The buildup of yellowish-brown plaque-like deposits and tartar on the teeth
Reluctance or difficulty in eating, from having pain on chewing food, along with subsequent weight loss
Most of these are pretty straightforward, right? You know where to look? Hint…it’s not their paws!
consequences
Here’s where it gets a little bit scary, but we have to talk about it! If left unaddressed, poor oral hygiene in dogs can cause progressive issues that put their entire body and overall health at risk.
Periodontal disease has been known to cause:
Gum inflammaton or gingivitis due to bacterial buildup in placque, resulting in abnormally red and puffy gums that are sensitive to the touch for dogs.
Pathologic jaw fractures as a result of decayed tissue in the dog’s jaw, resulting in tooth loss and a structural weakening of tooth sockets and jaw bones.
Kidney and liver disease and failure are well-documented consequences of untreated canine periodontal disease as a result of bacteria entering the bloodstream and reaching a final destination in these vital organs.
Risk of heart disease increases as a result of periodontal diseases, again due to bacteria.
Loss of weight and appetite due to discomfort eating or issues in the kidneys, liver, or heart.
As we said, scary stuff! All things that we here at Wags to Wiskers wish to avoid. And that’s why we’re doing Dog Dental Health 101 - so that we can inform and encourage the right habits that prevent our dogs from living with these consequences.
prevention and Progress
So, how can we prevent those nasty diseases? How can we make progress on dogs that are already beginning to show symptoms of poor oral health?
Regular brushing - you probably do it once or twice a day, right? Try to get your dog on a regular schedule with the same kind of discipline. You or they might not enjoy it, but the dividends will pay off (literally, from vet bills) with improved dental health over a longer period of time. The more you do this, the more accepting of it your dog will become. You can even brush with just water! This is the most important way to prevent issues - everything else is just supplemental!
Tooth-friendly treats and chews are an important item to throw into your dog’s diet. Check your local Wags to Wiskers Pet Supplies stores in the Ann Arbor, MI area (2270 W. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103) or the Chelsea, MI area (1192 S. Main St, Chelsea, MI, 48118) for a wide assortment of tooth-friendly treats that are designed to fight tartar and placque.
Food with a focus on improved dental health can be beneficial as well. For the most part, you will have to visit your veterinarian and get a proper prescription. It’s worth noting too that if you only feed your dog wet food, think again as the moisture in this food can increase bacterial buildup. A mixture of wet and dry food will help prevent this as the dry food can scrape off some of the moisture as your dog chews it.
Dental checkups - same idea as number 1 up there. Most poeple see a dentist here and there, now and again, every so often…right? Treat your dog’s mouth with the same emphasis and focus as you would your own, and you will see results! Dogs with hard buildup on their teeth should have a cleaning done at the veterinarian’s office. Brushing your pet’s teeth is used as a ‘preventative’ measure for dental disease, not a treatment of dental disease, which needs anesthetized dental cleanings.
Dog Dental Health 101
CONCLUSION
Hopefully you learned a thing or two in Dog Dental Health 101, presented by Wags to Wiskers in partnership with all dog owners and lovers! We want your pet to have the best health possible, with our help! Feel free to stop by a Wags to Wiskers pet store with any questions, concerns, comments, or otherwise. We are here for you!