The importance of taking a preventative approach to pet dental care

By Dr. Roger Krogstad, DVM

Wildwood Animal Hospital and Clinic LLC

Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed infectious disease in pets. By the time they are 4 years old, 85 percent of dogs and cats show signs of oral disease, and the clock is ticking.

The old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies here.

If left untreated, oral disease can not only cause severe pain, bad breath, and tooth loss, but the chronic infection can spread to major organs. This can seriously compromise your pet’s overall health and longevity.

You would not go years without brushing your own teeth. Just like human teeth, dogs’ teeth require professional cleaning to prevent serious oral disease.

Many pet owners think that stinky dog breath is normal. Pets with foul-smelling breath should be examined by a veterinarian immediately to determine if treatment is needed. Preventive veterinary dental care can save you money in the long run.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Most veterinary practices take this month to emphasize proper dental care and encourage overdue pets to schedule much needed dental care procedures.

Any concerns you may have about anesthesia and options for pre-anesthetic blood testing may be discussed. With modern veterinary anesthetics and monitoring techniques, this is now a low-risk, high-benefit procedure.

Call your veterinarian to schedule that much needed oral examination to keep your pets healthy, comfortable, and pain free.

Wildwood Animal Hospital and Clinic LLC is located at 210 Airpark Road in Marshfield and online at wildwoodanimalhospital.net.