Paws and Prayers Rescue Blog

• 57% of dog owners say their dog has bad-smelling breath.
• 59% of pet owners did not know that dental disease is the most prevalent disease in dogs and cats.
• 62% of pet owners aren’t taking action to address their pet’s dental health, and only a third take their pet to a veterinarian for professional cleaning.

• Bad breath (YES, a dog or cat’s breath isn’t always sweet as honey, but any especially offensive odor should be cause for concern; this can also be accompanied by loss of appetite, or vomiting or excessive drinking and urinating)
• Excessive drooling
• Inflamed gums
• Tumors in the gums
• Cysts under the tongue
• Loose teeth

• Pink gums (not white or red) which are not swollen
• Teeth should be clean and without brownish tartar
  
  

  

  
  

What health problems can dental disease cause?

Jan Bellows, DVM, from Weston Florida, writes to PetMD.com that “toxins from periodontal disease are absorbed into the dog’s bloodstream. As the kidneys, liver, and brain filter the blood, small infections occur, causing permanent and at time, fatal organ damage.” Shocking? Most definitely! Once dental disease is treated and pet parents continue a healthy regimen at home, pets often improve and do not suffer from further discomfort or illness. Dr. Bellows goes on to state that, thanks to circulation, these bacterial colonies can “set up shop” in the pets tissues, such as the heart and its valves, kidneys, liver, and brain. Exactly HOW important is dental health? Dr. Bellows says, “When a client asks me how long their puppy will live, I usually respond 15-17 years if you brush their teeth daily….11-13 years if you don’t.”

Hopefully this blog post has given you some food for thought with regards to your pet’s dental health. We have listed helpful resources below, as well as sources used to write this article. Stay tuned for our next installment on dental health, including easy and effective at-home dental regimens!

http://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/evr_dg_oral_hygiene_and_your_dogs_health?page=show#.URLtRx3LSSo

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-has-dental-disease/page1.aspx

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112778940/banfield-sinks-its-teeth-into-pet-dental-health/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-dental-health.aspx

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/PetCareArticle.aspx?title=AAHA_Dental_Care_Guidelines

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Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2