Signs your pet needs dental care : San Antonio Pets & Vets
Check those teeth!
Signs your pet needs dental care is right there in their mouth. That is correct check your pets teeth often! Your pets mouth is a crucial indicator to their health. Often and easy to overlook are the health of their teeth, but checking them and getting them cleaned on a regular basis will help reduce future health problems.
We are going to take a look at some of the warning signs you need to look out for in order to keep your pet healthy.
Signs of Pet Dental Health Problems
- Bad Breath – some folks think it is cute when their pet has the classic ‘doggy breath’. This can also mean a good cleaning is in store as well as other serious underlying problems!
- Discolored teeth – this is an easy one to examine. If you notice discolored teeth it is time for a cleaning. Usually this can result after 3 years of age.
- Tartar covering teeth – this can go hand in had with discolored teeth, but don’t wait too long. The tartar needs to be cleaned off to avoid further health issues.
- Broken teeth – a big indicator that you need to seek a dental examination sooner rather than later.
- Pain in the mouth – a hurt or broken tooth can cause pain in the mouth and needs to be checked out.
- Reduced appetite – pets will be less apt to eat if they are exhibiting pain in their mouth.
- Dropping food – this also goes with pain in the mouth. Just like humans if it hurts to do something like chew, your pet may be dropping their food to avoid the pain.
- Abnormal drooling – this could lend to a few conditions, however, if your pet is generally healthy and hasn’t just played ball in the yard and thirsty, they may have some pain in there mouth causing the excess drooling.
- Bleeding in the mouth – again other causes could be relevant here, but if your pet hasn’t been chewing on a bone and is otherwise healthy, this could be an indicator to go in for a dental cleaning and get the gums checked out.
- Swelling – Coupled with some of the other warning signs, your pet may present swelling in and around the mouth. A good approach would be to contact your nearest veterinarian for an examination.
What can these signs of dental health problems lead to?
Periodontal Disease is the most common issue. Starting around the age of 3, your pet can start exhibiting the signs of Periodontal Disease. If left unchecked it can lead to other more serious health issues such as:
- Kidney Disease
- Heart Disease
- Liver Disease
What can I do?
The best recommendation is to practice and take precautionary measures by checking their mouth often. You can even be brushing their teeth! But, if you are still unsure and you start to notice a few of the warning signs presented above, it is best to let your veterinarian perform dentals at least once a year to keep your pet happy and healthy!
We can help!
Our experienced staff is ready to help. If you are seeing signs your pet needs dental care, give us a call or set up your appointment here. Our San Antonio Veterinarians are ready to assist you in keeping your pet’s mouth happy and healthy!
During the month of September we are offering $35 off dental cleaning. Don’t miss the opportunity to save this month AND keep your pet happy and healthy!