At ALASKA PREMIER DENTAL GROUP we love our family, friends (the family you choose), coworkers, patients and pets! We know many of you have animals that also bring a smile to your face. To honor that relationship we want to highlights this weeks blog on how to care for your animals oral health.
Here are some tips to keep the whole family happy and healthy, and you may even learn something about your own oral health.
Keep Up On Your Pet’s Dental Health
You probably don’t think about checking your dog or cat’s mouth very often, but it’s important that you do. Dental problems can often lead to other health problems in your pet, not to mention they can be painful and costly. As with our own teeth, prevention is key!
Here are some things you should do to keep your furry friend’s mouth healthy:
- Have your pet’s teeth checked and cleaned at least once a year by a veterinarian
- While daily toothbrushing is ideal for your pet, at least get in three to four good brushing sessions per week (using toothpaste specially formulated for them–not human toothpaste)
- Make sure your dog or cat is on a nutritious diet that is good for their teeth; your veterinarian will help you know what kind of food is best
- Chew toys are great for scraping plaque off of your dog’s teeth and can be a great supplement to tooth brushing!
There are many products out there that can help keep your pet’s teeth healthy and breath fresh. Talk to your veterinarian about what products they recommend for your dog or cat’s oral hygiene routine!
Watch the video below to see how to properly brush your pet’s teeth:
Healthy Smiles Make It All Worthwhile
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA), 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs have some kind of oral disease by the age of two or three. That’s why attending to your pet’s oral health on a daily basis should be as normal to them as their daily walks.
After enough practice, they may even look forward to toothbrushing time! And while brushing your pet’s teeth may be a lot of work, just remember, healthy smiles make all that work worthwhile.
We’d love to see your pets’ smiles! Snap a photo of you and your pet showing off your pearly whites and post it to our Facebook page! Here’s Sinjin smiling, he does this all on his own folks!
Images used with permission from Holly Evans, local Alaskan and owner of RR’s Cardinal SIDEOUT “Sinjin” and the late Colonel Carlsbad Bogart McKenzie “Bogie”.
Thank you for reading our blog and supporting our practice.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.