You might think your pet’s pearly white teeth mean their mouth is totally healthy. Not so, unfortunately.
When it comes to pet dental health, there’s a little more to the story. These fast facts will walk you through the hidden problems in your pet’s mouth.
1.) Surprisingly, white teeth don’t always mean a healthy mouth
White teeth are great, and you certainly don’t want tartar build-up, but the color of your pet’s teeth isn’t necessarily the most important thing to check.
Those seemingly clean chompers aren’t necessarily telling you the whole story. Signs that infection may be lurking can be found by examining your pet’s gums.
2.) Yikes! Don’t miss the tell-tale signs of infection
The health of your pet’s gums is actually more important than the health of their teeth. Infection in the gums can lead to a whole host of issues for your furry friend.
Check gums for signs of infection, such as:
- Redness
- Swelling
If you are noticing any of these signs, notify your trusted veterinarian immediately.
3) What if we just let it go a while?
Issues with your pet’s mouth can do a lot more than just prevent your pet from getting a hot date.
Left untreated, infections in your pet’s mouth can lead to bad breath and tooth loss. But that’s not the worst part…
4) Problems in your pet’s mouth can affect vital organs!
That bacteria in your pet’s mouth has to go somewhere. When dental issues are left untreated, your dog or cat may develop heart, liver or kidney disease.
Want more info on keeping your pet’s mouth healthy?
In this episode of Cone of Shame, I debunk 5 major mouth myths. More questions? Ask your trusted veterinarian or veterinary technician at your pet’s next visit!
Danielle is a veterinary practice manager and the founder of SnoutSchool.com, a website dedicated to teaching veterinary hospitals to use social media effectively. You can get her 5 favorite social media tools here, or follow her on social media to see excessive photos of her Brussels Griffon. She’s @DanielleSnout on Twitter & Instagram!
