Maintaining your pet's dental health should be a routine rather than a luxury. Just like humans, pets develop dental problems such as bad breath or periodontal disease when you don't take the initiative to maintain the pet's dental health.
To ensure your pet's dental health is okay and the pet's breath isn't a turn-off to you or anyone else, discover a few tips to help you maintain the pet's dental health.
Make Regular Visits to the Veterinary
Regular visits to the vet should always include a dental checkup for your pet. A professional assessment of your pet's dental health can provide detailed information about your pet's dental condition and professional insight on how to better your pet's dental health.
The vet can also do a thorough dental cleanup for your pet and treat any diseases that may be present. If need be, the vet can pull out a tooth to avoid spreading an infection or generally relieve pain. Ensure your pet gets a professional dental checkup at least once a year.
Brush Your Pet's Teeth Often
Brushing your pet's teeth every day may be a bit demanding especially if you are busy. The pet may not also fancy teeth brushing, especially if you have never brushed the pet's teeth before.
Despite the challenges of cleaning your pet's teeth, brushing your pet's teeth at least a few times a week can help maintain the pet's oral hygiene and general dental health. Try using a brush with soft bristles. Try out different toothpastes, and see which one your pet is more comfortable with.
You may consider cleaning your pet's teeth using mouthwash especially if the pet isn't comfortable with the brushing. However, consult your vet for a recommendation of the most ideal mouthwash to use.
The more you clean your pet's teeth, the higher the chances of your pet enjoying dental health.
Check On Your Pet's Diet
Be keen on what you feed your pets, as some foods can harm your pet's dental health. Acidic foods, for example, can form stains on your pet's teeth.
Avoid feeding your pets table scraps, as human food can increase tartar and plaque buildup in the pet's teeth.
For dogs, try out synthetic bones rather than real bones. Synthetic bones help eliminate tartar and plaque from your dog's teeth and keep the teeth healthy.
Consult your veterinarian on what foods to avoid and which ones to invest in so you maintain your pet's dental health.
Start Them Young
You will most likely find cleaning the teeth of young puppies and kittens easier than the older pets. Older pets can also learn how to be comfortable with the whole process, but you might have to be a little patient.
When you work on a dental health maintenance routine on your pets when the pets are still young, you get the pets to adapt easily and reduce the risks of dental issues later when the pets are older.
Hydrate Your Pets
Water is not only good for your pet's health but also helps flush away bacteria and food remnants on the pet's teeth. Once in a while, ensure your pets take some water to help maintain the pet's dental health.
Consult your vet on some water additives that help clean the pet's teeth and prevent the build of tartar.
If you follow the tips in this piece and integrate the services of a reputable veterinarian, your pets can better enjoy good health from head to toe. If you need a vet medical center that you can trust to take care of your pet's health, contact us at
Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach.
