Can we make pets live longer?

Do you want your pets live longer?

Then you should check your dog or cat’s mouth and see what’s going on inside.

Does your dog or cat have missing teeth?

loose teeth?

or “doggie” or “kitty” breath?

While we might think these things are normal for an animal as they age, they are all signs of periodontal disease (unless the tooth loss is from chewing on a rock).

Periodontal disease not only can result in mouth pain, tooth loss and difficulty eating, it can lead to liver, kidney and heart problems as the disease advances (with age) and bacteria moves into the bloodstream.

Sadly, most dogs and cats have periodontal disease by the time they are 3 or 4 years old.

Just like people, they develop plaque, a sticky substance that builds up on the teeth and gum line from food particles and bacteria remaining after eating.

Tartar is what accumulates and hardens on the teeth when the plaque isn’t removed.

Thankfully, there are easy steps you can take to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

First, start a new habit of brushing your pet’s teeth once or twice a day.

There are videos online that can show you how to do this.

There are flavored kinds of toothpaste (poultry, vanilla-mint, beef, malt and seafood) that pets love and are designed for them to swallow.

Never, ever use human toothpaste with your pet.

Finger brushes are great for starters and remain great for cats since their mouths are smaller.

While there are special toothbrushes for your dog or cat, a child’s soft bristle brush also works.

Always give your dog or cat a hard, crunchy treat afterward as a reward.

If you can’t see yourself brushing your pet’s teeth, or your pets simply can’t get used to having their teeth brushed after weeks of trying, there are other things you can do to prevent tartar buildup.

First, if your pet already has considerable tartar in his or her mouth, get their teeth professionally cleaned by a veterinarian.

Veterinarians often run teeth cleaning specials in February.

Second, there are oral products that can help with prevention, like dental chews, dental wipes and powders as well as prescription diets.

Water additives are available to add to their drinking water that reduces bacteria and lessens future tartar buildup.

Visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council at vohc.org to find approved products for dogs and cats.

Brushing your pet’s teeth though remains the gold standard for your pet’s mouth care.

While you can begin this brushing habit anytime, if you start when your pet is young, you might avoid the future costs of periodontal disease.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Healthy Supplies Shop is  not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of healthy supplies shop  and we do not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.