To avoid multiple diseases it is necessary to maintain good dental health.
Its alterations can cause inflammation of the gums, dental calculus, bad breath, urinary and heart infections, stomach upset, jaw fractures, among other life-threatening diseases.
The following recommendations will help us keep our dogs and cats in good dental health:
- You should brush your teeth daily with dog toothpaste or products that come prepared in spray or gel. Brushing should begin when they are puppies at 3 months old. At this stage, they get used to the feeling of the brush or rubber to brush with. The movements must be very gentle so that the experience is pleasant. Creams should not be applied here. nor spray.
- When they have completely shed, choose the cream, gel or spray to apply to the brush or directly to the teeth.
- The way of brushing and/or products can be recommended by the veterinarian according to the oral examination performed. The size of the brush and the type of bristles must also be taken into account. Generally, they should be soft or if it is necessary to use rubber bands in the form of brushes that are placed on the fingers for greater ease when brushing. These rubber bands reduce the stress that the brush produces in some pets. They are also ideal for adult animals that are not used to brushing.
- Use prescribed oral solutions to control the formation of dental calculus and bad breath, these solutions are mixed with drinking water daily to maintain good oral health.
- If your pet has yellow spots on its teeth, the veterinarian may recommend periodontal treatment. For this, it is necessary to take it to a consultation and determine the level of periodontal disease it has.
- Periodontal treatment is performed using general anesthesia and this is why blood tests should always be performed to be sure that the main organs are functioning properly and thus avoid risks with anesthesia.
- There are different brands of concentrated foods on the market that prevent the formation of dental calculus and periodontal disease; the veterinarian prescribes them after a general oral and clinical examination.
- Sometimes it is necessary to administer antibiotics to prevent infections originating in the mouth from going to other organs. In these cases, self-formulation must be avoided since resistance to antibiotics can be generated. The veterinarian will always be the professional authorized to prescribe these medicines.
- Specific toys and snacks are another useful tool to prevent the formation of dental calculus and gingivitis, especially in small breed dogs that are more predisposed to suffering from this disease.
- The warning signs that indicate that your pet is suffering from an alteration in oral health begin with bad breath, stains on the teeth, inflammation of the gums, loss of teeth, sometimes they stop eating, fever or behavioral changes.
- It is advisable to visit the veterinarian every 4 months for a general check-up to prevent your pet from suffering from periodontal disease or alterations in oral health.
