Tuesday, February 26, 2008

February: Dental Health Month

February is pet dental health month, and I was appalled to learn that 70% of dogs have an onset of dental disease by the age of three. With little Max coming on age three in just a few months, this was a real eye-opener for me.

Here are some facts that can help you prevent oral diseases:
  • It is important to brush your pet's teeth at least once a week.
  • You can use either a brush or your finger in a circular motion, about 30 seconds on each side.
  • If you pet hates the toothbrush, try placing a little dab of toothpaste on their nose or paw and let them lick it off to allow them to get use to the flavor.
  • Do not use human toothpaste, as it has detergents that can cause pets to become ill.
If your pet does not want to eat, or does not want to clean himself, it may be because of mouth pain associated with an oral disease. Non-customary drooling is also a sign of oral disease. If your pet has these symptoms, make sure your vet checks this out.

Max loves to brush!

7 comments:

i said...

Thanks for sharing. Max looks so cute as usual.

Simba and Jazzi said...

Good advice there. Clean teeth are very important.

Simba x

Amber-Mae said...

Max is sooo cute in that picture! Thank you for sharing that important info. Our teefies get brushed once or twice a week, depending on mommy if she's lazy or not. Our teefies are still quite white but slowly turning yellow but free of tartar or brown stuff. Our breaths smell goooooooood!


Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Balboa said...

Thanks for the information, clean and healthy teeth make happy doggies.

what a super cute picture

Frenchie SNorts
Balboa

Maya and Kena said...

Oooh!! Thanks fur telling us!! We gotta tell mommy to brush our teeth more often..
We love that pic of you!! SO CUTE!
Wags and licks,
Maya and Kena

Anonymous said...

Great information! If you start this while your dog is still young (few months old) then you can prevent much of the tartar buildup. But once the dog is over a year, or even heading on up to three years, you'll definitely want to take him or her to your local veterinarian for a dental.

Be sure that the technicians who are going to be performing your pup's dental are certified in animal dentistry, because there are a lot of veterinarians who attempt to save money by hiring under educated technicians who are not board certified or licensed. They do use general anesthesia, and you want your dog to be in safe hands! My husband does this for a living, and is highly trained in his field.

Metal Fabrication Downey said...

Great bloog