Pet Dental Care

October may be mostly associated with falling leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and spooky Halloween adventures, but there's something else you should definitely know about: National Pet Wellness Month. Wellness care provides a solid foundation for pets' long-term health and includes services like exams, vaccinations, and routine bloodwork.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month and, as veterinarians, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to shine a light on such a pivotal topic. And while we seem to hear more about dog dental care, cat dentistry gets far too little attention. Just like dogs with dental disease, cats can have trouble eating, painful mouths, and the infections can even spread into the bloodstream.

Cat dental care certainly isn’t the most exciting topic we veterinarians care to chat about with pet owners. On the other hand, we understand just how crucial a contribution this is to overall cat wellness. We also see firsthand the extremely negative and sometimes painful effects of a less-than-stellar (or no) cat dental routine.

When we have our pet’s teeth cleaned, it's because we want to do the very best for them. We want a healthy pet that lives a long and happy life. You might have heard of anesthesia-free dental cleanings at pet stores, a groomer, or even some veterinary professionals. This is a service that is often less expensive and is seen as a risk-free alternative that improves our pet’s dental health. We in the veterinary field refer to this as "non-anesthesia dental scaling" and, quite frankly, we find it to be an unsafe dental procedure.

Good health for your dog and cat often starts at…well, the beginning. That is your pet’s mouth. Often the first time the pet owner really thinks about the mouth is when they get a good whiff of their dog or cat’s breath. It can be anything from a slightly gamey smell, to a sour smell, to a terrible sewer-like smell.

February may be National Pet Dental Health Month, but don’t forget that your pet’s teeth need some love the other 11 months of the year, too!

Working on a resolution or two for a happier, healthier new year? Consider including some for your pet!

Setting and conquering goals together is a great way to bond with your pet and pick up some mutually beneficial habits. Need some inspiration to get started? Here are seven New Year’s resolutions for you and your pet.