When it comes to your pet’s health, periodontal disease is one of the most important considerations in a long-term care plan. In fact, bad oral health is responsible for some of the worst conditions your pet can experience, with late-stage symptoms that can include organ failure and untimely death. Preventing periodontal disease in your pet can help to provide your little friend with more than just a good quality of life, it will provide them with more years with the family as well.
Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to give your pet the best chance of experiencing adequate oral health. It’s easier and more straightforward than you may suspect!
What Causes Gum Disease in Pets?
Periodontal disease (aka gum disease) affects 80% of pets over the age of three years old. This is largely due to one primary element: diet. The foods that are fed to our pets are very often nothing more than a pet’s version of junk food. Many of the kibble options are packed with high levels of carbohydrate filler, chemical preservatives, low-quality protein ingredients, and various substances that are not at all healthful for your pet.
This low-quality food affects your pet’s oral health in two ways. The first is by weakening the immune system over time. These low-quality foods cause damage by slowly increasing overall systemic stress, autoimmune inflammation, and other problems that come from GI distress. The second way this food has a negative impact on oral health is by introducing problematic bacteria, fed by the starchy sugars, to the oral cavity when eaten. This two-fold assault on your pet’s mouth is a recipe for periodontal disease.
Periodontitis Prevention
Periodontitis, the official name for gum disease, is not something that your pet has to suffer from. In fact, it is an entirely avoidable issue when prevented with the right care and attention. As long as you know what to do and what to look for you can pretty much guarantee that your pet will have a healthy mouth for years to come.
The first thing to do is to sit down with your vet and begin developing a relationship with them. You will learn about the various things you can do to make sure that your pet is in top shape throughout its life. This will include a dental care plan. Pet dental care can be introduced quite easily into your lifestyle, just like your own daily oral care routine does.
Daily brushing is the suggested at-home care routine. With a proper pet toothbrush and toothpaste, you can quickly establish a daily 10-15 minute routine that prevents the vast majority of painful, and costly, issues that often arise. If you and your pet are new to toothbrushing, don’t fret! In as little as a few days, both you and your little friend will be ready to enjoy some quality time together while brushing.
A dental care plan for your pet will also include yearly wellness visits to your vet for more thorough and professional support. This will include a dental cleaning that is not able to happen at home. This special cleaning performed exclusively by your vet is able to clean below the gumline where the biggest problems form, hide, and develop over time. Making sure that this area is cleaned professionally prevents major problems such as tooth decay, bone loss, gum infection, and even organ failure caused by toxicity.
Just to note, even if your pet has glistening white teeth from your daily brushing routine, there can still be major issues just below the gum line you’d never find without x-rays. This happens quite often and can be avoided by establishing a professional oral health routine with your veterinarian.
Final Thoughts
Preventing periodontal disease in your pet is your responsibility. The best way to ensure your pet is free of all the painful and costly issues that arise through bad oral health is establishing a regular care plan. This care plan is mostly home-based with a daily brushing routine and a dietary plan put in place. Even so, a yearly wellness visit to your veterinarian that includes a dental health check-up and cleaning takes care of the stuff you can’t reach at home. If you have any questions about how to establish an oral care routine, reach out to us today, and we will be happy to get you on the right track towards great oral care for your pet! We look forward to hearing from you.
