3 minute read
Ask a Vet important for pets
Healthy Mouths, Happy Pets
We wouldn’t go years without having our teeth checked out (hopefully), and neither should your pets. Ensuring their mouths stay healthy can have a positive effect on more than simply their teeth, as we find out from Dr. Jackie Burks of Pet Vet Express.
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Q: Why is a pet’s dental health important?
A: It is important for pets to have healthy mouths with fresh breath and healthy gums so that they can keep all of their teeth. But even more important is how gum disease affects their overall health. Pets that have severe dental disease can have heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease. Pets that have healthy mouths stay healthier and live longer.
Q: What are signs that your dog or cat may be having dental issues?
A: One of the most common signs is bad breath. Bad breath is not normal for dogs and cats. It is always a sign of some degree of dental disease. Other signs can be pain when chewing or reluctance to eat. Severe dental disease can lead to abscessed teeth with swelling on the face or jaw.
Q: What types of dental services does your practice often?
A: We always offer free dental exams. If your pet has bad breath or other signs of dental disease, we will do a
The Veterinarian
Dr. Jackie Burks is the primary vet at Pet Vet Express, which has locations in Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. Pet Vet Express is a full-service veterinary hospital providing preventative care, medical care for illness, surgery, and dental care. They also provide bathing and grooming services. Dr. Burks has been in practice for 39 years and is a graduate of the Mississippi State University of Veterinary Medicine. His primary areas of interest are surgery, dentistry, and dermatology.
free exam and let you know what is going on. We offer dental cleaning with safe anesthesia and thorough dental exams. If extractions are needed, we can perform the extractions. If more specialized treatment is needed, such as a root canal or complicated extraction, we have a board-certified dental specialist in the area to whom we can refer your pet. We strive to provide personal service to our clients and tender loving care to our patients.
Q: How often should cats and dogs have their teeth professionally cleaned?
A: The national average for dogs is that a dog will first need to have his teeth cleaned at the age of 3.5 years. Once dogs or cats have reached the point that they have to have their teeth cleaned, they usually need to have their teeth cleaned yearly to every other year.
Q: What are common dental problems you see with pets?
A: We see mostly tartar accumulation and gum disease ranging from mild to so severe that teeth are loose and must be extracted. We also see fractured teeth that need to be extracted.
Q: What are ways owners can keep their pets’ teeth healthy at home?
A: They can feed dry crunchy food so that the abrasive action helps keep teeth clean. They can use dental chews such as our favorite Oravet dental chews on a daily basis. And most important of all, they can brush their pets’ teeth daily. I do have a toothbrush training handout that I would be glad to provide to anyone interested in training their pet to have his teeth cleaned. We also carry specialized pet toothbrushes and toothpaste.
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