CANINE PERIODONTAL DISEASE

To consider yourself a dog owner, don’t just make your dog happy but healthy! Provide him with utmost dog dental care just like how you give care to your own family member. There are approximately 74 million dogs in the US. US dog owners care and treat their dogs like their own family member but most of them are not aware of one of the biggest health risks of their dog.

The most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets is periodontal disease. It begins when bacteria and food remains build up along the gum line of the dog. It will create plaque and soon the tartar will form. In this case the gums will swell and opening will form that can trap bacteria. This can lead to more serious problems. Identify the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease to avoid it.

Bad breath in dogs, bleeding gums, loosened teeth, pain in the mouth and infections in the organs like kidney, liver and heart are advance periodontal disease signs. This article aims to make dog owners to take a step to care for their dog’s dental health as much as they care for their own.

A toothbrush made for dogs must be used in cleaning their teeth because brush with not enough frequency will still fail to maintain proper canine oral health. Dr. Jan Bellows, DVM and owner of Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Weston, Fla. uses ORAVET, a plaque-preventing gel that makes disease-causing bacteria from attaching to the teeth stop. It is available in the market.

After the cleaning inside the clinic, the gel is applied to the dog’s teeth, creating a restriction that lessens the bacterial plaque from attaching. Owners then apply a tasteless, odorless gel once a week to the dog’s teeth. It usually takes less than a minute to apply.

“As a veterinarian and as a pet owner, this gel gives me a valuable tool in preventing oral disease in dogs,” says Dr. Bellows. “It’s easy to use and is a perfect complement to tooth brushing, dental diets and dental chews.”

Give your dog the best by taking care of his health. If you failed to do this and you think it’s too late to take a step, think again, take your dog now to the veterinarian for a checkup or treatment. It is always advised to seek professional help from trained professionals.