Pet Age Staff //February 23, 2017//
Periodontal disease is one of the most common and overlooked disease in veterinary medicine, according to Forever Freckled’s Dr. Alison Birken. Just like in humans, poor dental health can result in serious health issues, such as heart disease, and an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and pancreatic disease. So why is dental disease an epidemic? What can pet owners do to ensure our pets live longer and happier lives by preventing periodontal disease? The first step is to have pets’ teeth evaluated by your veterinarian. Many of Dr. Birken’s pet parents do not realize their pets have dental disease. Commonly, her clients bring their pets to see her with complaints that their breath smells horrible or eating habits have changed. These are the most common signs of periodontal disease. Recognizing the signs of periodontal disease is the first step in improving pets’ oral care and overall health.
The following are some clinical signs Dr. Birken gives that may suggest a pet has periodontal disease:
Poor oral health can also be painful and uncomfortable for pets, and sometimes our pets have difficulty expressing that they are in pain, especially if the pain is minor or dull oral pain. So now that we recognized our pets have periodontal disease, what can we do to help improve their dental health? There are many things that can be done at home to not only improve the overall health and wellbeing of pets’ oral hygiene, but also improve their quality of life. The following are some great ways to improve the oral hygiene of our pets, and their overall wellbeing.
Proper Dental Care and Disease Prevention