As you may already know, failing to take care of your pet’s dental health can cause periodontal disease. It is an infection and inflammation of the tissues that surround and support their teeth. The condition can lead to bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth loss. However, poor oral hygiene in pets is actually also linked to other health problems. Once the infection gets into your pet’s gums, the bacteria can easily penetrate the bloodstream where they can travel around to the major organs in the body. Here are some of the risks of poor pet dental health that you should watch out for:
- Diabetes. Diabetes and periodontal disease seem to feed on each other in a vicious cycle. It’s often difficult to know for sure which came first. But, the more serious the dental disease is, the more severe diabetes gets. This, in turn, makes the dental problem worse. Nevertheless, it’s important to point out that infection and inflammation linked to dental disease can affect your pet’s blood-sugar metabolism.
- Broken Jaw. Lack of proper dental care can result in a fractured jaw in pets. This is especially true to small dog breeds with large teeth, like Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, and Malteses. Infection from dental disease can impair their jaws. As a matter of fact, when this happens, even simple activities, such as jumping out of bed, can break their jaws. This rarely occurs, but when your four-legged friend breaks its jaw, it can be severe and excruciating. A broken jaw caused by periodontal disease is also not easy to treat. This is because of the lack of good quality bone in the affected area.
- Heart Disease. A lot of dog patients suffer from periodontal disease and heart disease at the same time. It’s been discovered that the cultured bacteria from infected heart valves are similar to those that were identified in the mouth. Besides, a report from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association revealed that the risk of endocarditis, which is an infection of a heart valve, is six times higher in dogs with moderate to severe periodontal disease as compared to their counterparts without this dental problem.
How Can You Prevent These Health Risks?
The best way to keep your pet from suffering from these health issues is to sustain a proper dental care regimen. See to it that your pet is getting its regular teeth and gum cleaning. Make sure that you diligently take your fur baby for periodic oral examinations and use scientifically tested and proven pet products. These items include treats, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sprays, to name some.
Your pet’s dental health is an essential aspect of its overall health and well-being. Do you need to schedule an oral exam for your little companion? Visit Goose Creek Veterinary Hospital in Ashburn, Virginia, today. Let us keep your pet’s mouth healthy and help you check for any possible signs of a problem as early as now. Call us today at (571)444-8600 to schedule an appointment.
