Dental Health Season – Part 2
Our most recent dental patient, Rex, now with shiny teeth!
For those of you that may have missed our announcements in the previous few weeks, February and March are Dental Health Season at Blandon Family Veterinary Practice! We have had several furry family members in for everything from a routine cleaning to serious extractions and all of them are now enjoying the benefits of good dental health. For good dental health, here are some things you can do for your pet at home to help in the promotion of good dental health.
In the same way that you brush your own teeth to keep them healthy, brushing your pet’s teeth can provide the first line of defense against tartar buildup and disease of the gums. Brushing your pet’s teeth can be a simple task as long as approached correctly. The earlier in life you can start brushing your pet’s teeth, the more likely they are to accept and enjoy the brushing sessions. Begin slowly by simply getting your pet used to having your hands near or on their mouth, reinforcing with treats along the way. Once they are comfortable with that step, increase the activity to pulling up their lip a little at a time. Make sure to reward appropriately with treats to help them associate brushing with good things. Pet toothpaste is specially designed to have great flavor, and can be like a treat for them. It is a good idea at this point in the brushing training process to introduce their toothpaste as a treat during these sessions. After they allow you to gently pull up their lip and look at their teeth, start by using only your finger to touch and rub their gums. Once you’ve reached this point, you can start to use a fingerbrush or soft toothbrush with the pet toothpaste on it to clean their teeth. You need only brush the outer surfaces (not the biting or inner surfaces). We suggest that you brush their teeth daily (but please, at least three times per week). If you have any brushing questions, feel free to give us a call and ask! We carry fingerbrushes, toothbrushes, and pet toothpaste in several flavors that you can purchase here in the office any time. As a reminder, NEVER use human toothpaste as some of the ingredients can be actually be poisonous for your dog.
Nothing can replace the value of faithful brushing, but other things that can help assist with dental health include specially-designed toys, treats and even special prescription dental health diets. We would be happy to answer any questions about which of these options might be best for your pet.
Even just a hint of tartar visible on the teeth is cause enough to come over for a cleaning. Please don’t wait till your pet has horrific breath or teeth that would give your dentist a heart attack! We are so committed to maintaining good dental health that our Dental Health Season extends through the end of March. As a reminder, any dental procedure scheduled in the month of March will receive as many dental x-rays as medically necessary for free! Call us and make an appointment for a dental exam today!