Dentists typically instruct us people to brush our teeth at least twice a day. Fortunately, pet’s often don’t need such constant brushing. That said, pet dental care and teeth cleanings are important for protecting your pet’s health. Fortunately, here at Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital in Lewisburg, we provide pet dental checkups and care.

For now, let’s take a look at why pet dental care is vital for your pet’s health. Then, we’ll cover some telltale signs of a serious dental issue.

Understanding Pet Dental Health and Teeth Cleaning

Why do you have to brush your teeth twice a day while many animals in the wild go their entire lives without brushing? Humans eat a lot of sugar, which in turn encourages bacterial growth. Over time, the bacteria damage teeth and can cause infections.

Dogs, cats, and many other pets don’t eat much sugar. This means bacteria have less food to eat and thus a pet’s teeth tend to accumulate less bacteria. They also only need their teeth to last around 20 years or less.

Signs My Pet Needs a Dental Checkup, Teeth Cleaning, or a Tooth Extraction

Many signs of a pet dental issue are similar to signs of problems among us humans. Bad breath, bleeding gums, black spots on the teeth, high levels of tartar build-up, and various other things are signs of a dental issue.

Your pet may also avoid eating and may seem sensitive to being touched, especially around the mouth. If your pet is exhibiting any of the above signs, or you have other reasons to believe that your pet is suffering from dental issues, visit our animal hospital right away.

When it comes to treating pet dental issues, time is of the essence. If you catch and treat the condition sooner rather than later, simple teeth cleaning may be enough to ensure good dental health. If a tooth is badly infected, a tooth extraction may be in order.

Other dental issues may necessitate surgeries. Sometimes antibiotics are needed to bring infections under control. Fortunately, a vet can prescribe treatment, so visit an animal hospital as soon as you can.

Preventative Care to Ensure Pet Dental Health

Our veterinarian can help you come up with plans to reduce the risk of dental issues. This may mean cutting sugar and processed human foods from your pet’s diet. Certain chew toys and treats may help your cat, dog, or other pet scrape plaque off their teeth.

A veterinarian can teach you how to brush your dog’s teeth. A vet can also go over further symptoms of dental problems so you know what to watch for.

Come visit us at Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital in Lewisburg for all your pet dental needs!