By the age of 3 dogs and cats may develop dental disease. Dental disease, especially gum disease, opens the door for infection to enter the body. Dental disease is very uncomfortable for your pet and puts a lot of stress on the body.
Periodontal Disease
This is the most common disease affecting cats and dogs.
Periodontal disease begins with plaque forming in the pet’s mouth, which sticks to the teeth. Plaque is caused by bacteria. Then minerals are deposited into plaque which hardens to form tartar. Finally, the tartar builds under the pet’s gumline. This causes loose teeth, which will eventually fall out. This opens the door for infection to enter the bloodstream creating potentially life-threatening health conditions.
Symptoms of Dental Disease
- Bad breath
- Lethargy
- Not grooming themselves well
- Salivating
- Red gums, swollen, and may bleed
- Decrease appetite
- Weight loss
- Dropping food while eating because teeth are hurting
- Facial swelling
- Discharge from the nose or eyes
- Pawing at the face
- Teeth that are loose or falling out
- Open wounds in the mouth can allow infection to enter the body.
The key to healthy oral health in your pet is prevention like brushing your pet’s teeth daily, offering a healthy diet with lots of animal protein, daily dental treats, oral sprays, oral gels, water additives, or supplements like probiotics and PlaqueOff to support your pet’s dental and overall health.
