Phew! Doggie Breath Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats

 We’ve all heard the phrase “doggie breath.” That loving pup that perches at the side of your bed in the morning, tongue hanging out, wafting a toxic plume of odoriferous smell over your sleeping face. Phew! The sad truth is that dogs and cats refuse to brush their teeth. I’ve tried. I’ve set out all the paraphernalia out by the bathroom sink: toothbrush in the shape of a bone, beef-flavored toothpaste. Nothing. They just stare at it. And all those years of not brushing adds up to dental disease. More than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of dental disease by the age of three. Three years old! They are still youngsters!
But it’s not just the smell we are worried about. Plaque and tartar on the teeth harbor bacteria that start to irritate the gum tissue and work their way under the gums to the roots of the teeth. Worst of all, our pets cannot tell us when they are in pain. You might notice your cat not eating as well as she used to or your dog drops bits of food. Some animals will paw at their mouths, others will not show any sign of pain and suffer in silence.
So, what can we do as loving pet owners to help keep our furry friends healthy? Bring your pets to see your veterinarian at least once a year. We will look closely in their mouth and check for any indication of dental disease. We can show you how to use that beef-flavored toothpaste. If a dental cleaning is required, we can do the dental x-rays, scaling, and polishing that is needed.
Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center is located at 25832 Hemingway Ave. in Santa Clarita. For details, please call 661-799-0655 and visit www.srvc.com.