Regular dental checkups are vital to maintaining your pet's oral health as well as overall health. As food and other organic particles accumulate on the teeth, a coating is formed known as plaque that hardens and mineralizes into calculus, or tartar. Plaque and tartar contain bacteria that produce toxins, which irritate the gums making them tender, red, and swollen, allowing the plaque and tartar to reach the root of the tooth. This causes the gums to bleed easily and may lead to tooth loss. When the gums bleed, this allows the bacteria to enter the bloodstream where it can then travel to vital organs like the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and nervous system and cause major infections. Ask us about professional dental cleanings for the health of your pet.

At home preventative dental care is simple and effective. Follow these guidelines for maintaining your pet's oral hygiene:

• Feed hard or coarse food such as Royal Canin Dental DD Diet. It is specially formulated to prevent tartar formation.
• Provide rawhide, hard rubber or nylon chews for your dog. C.E.T. Chews for dogs and cats are treated with enzymes to breakdown plaque buildup on the teeth of your pet.
• Brush your pet's teeth regularly. Using a finger brush or small sized tooth brush together with C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste in mint or poultry flavors is helpful in maintaining good oral health.
• Oxyfresh Mouthrinse for animals eliminates bad breath in dogs and cats. It's as simple as adding one teaspoon per quart of your pet's drinking water.
• Regular professional dental cleaning by your veterinarian is the most effective way to ensure good dental health of your pet.  It is recommended to have the teeth cleaned annually, which is equivalent to having our teeth cleaned every seven years.

Call us to schedule a dental checkup for your pet. We will answer your questions about your best friend's oral health.