Apple Valley Veterinarians in Southington, Also Serving Nearby Meriden for Pet Dental Care
Whew, your pet’s breath is stinky! You may think it’s because dogs and cats are animals and that’s just how his or her breaths are supposed to smell, but that’s not true. Just like people can get gingivitis, cavities, and even periodontal disease from poor oral hygiene, so too can your pets.
How Important Is Pet Dental Care for My Pets?
As you’re beginning to understand then, it’s very necessary for your pets to receive proper and regular dental care. Just like you see your human dentist about yearly, your pet should receive a teeth cleaning and other dental care from their veterinarian at least annually.
Your vet will do a teeth cleaning as well as check out your pet’s oral health. The vet will review the oral cavities, gum lines, teeth, and surrounding areas for traces of cavities, plaque, and other oral health maladies.
How Do You Know if Your Pet Has Bad Teeth?
Your vet will be able to tell you if your pet has poor oral hygiene and thus bad teeth. There are symptoms you, the pet owner, can look out for when your pet is home to prevent the onset of oral diseases, such as:
- Stinky breath
- Yellowed teeth
- Loose or broken teeth
- Bleeding, inflamed, or reddened gums
- Discoloration of the gums (very brown or black instead of pink)
These could be symptoms of gingivitis, cavities, plaque, or periodontal disease. The latter can affect the heart and liver and thus is crucial to catch and treat early. Luckily, with good oral hygiene, periodontal disease is completely avoidable.
Reasons to Take Care of Your Pet’s Teeth
Still need some reasons to take care of your pet’s teeth? Here are some convincing benefits:
- If your pet has a painful oral condition, they may be more likely to become aggressive and bite if you go near them.
- Your pet could stop eating if this becomes too painful, which could put his or hers life in danger.
- Periodontal disease can also put your pet’s life at risk.
- Bad breath is unappealing and may make you want to keep away from your pet.
- The more advanced your pet’s oral health issue, the more money it will typically cost to treat it.
While your vet will take care of teeth cleanings, you can and should brush your pet’s teeth in between appointments. This will keep their mouths healthy and clean.
Call Our Veterinarian near Meriden Today!
If you’re looking for a veterinarian near Meriden, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Apple Valley Veterinarians, our patients also come from Planstville and Cheshire.
Our services are preventative care, wound care, microchipping, pet dermatology, nutritional counseling and pet diet advice, special procedures, upper respiratory infection treatment, parasite control, spaying and neutering, pet surgery, pet dentistry, vaccinations, senior pet care, puppy and kitten care, and pet wellness exams.
If your pet is overdue for a dental checkup, call today at (860) 628-9635 or come to Apple Valley Veterinarians on 1218 South Main Street.