As the Vets Says

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and we are here to celebrate! Our pets don’t exactly brush their teeth every day, which makes them likely to develop several different dental diseases. Dogs and cats don’t really get cavities like people do, but they can definitely have some other problems. 1 – Plaque and tartar build up is very common in both cats and dogs. If your pet has bad breath or you see a yellow or brown build up on their teeth, that’s plaque and tartar. Brushing can help prevent plaque from building up and can keep it from getting much worse. But once that tartar has built up on your pet’s teeth, the only way to remove it is by a thorough dental cleaning by your veterinarian. 2 – Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is also very common. Most of the time it goes along with plaque and tartar build up, but some pets can have gum irritation even with relatively clean teeth! Gingivitis can be fairly painful as it gets worse, and can make your pet not want to eat or chomp on his favorite toys. 3 – Broken teeth are more common in dogs, but can also happen in cats. Broken teeth often happen when pets are chewing on hard items (like big sticks or rocks) or in a fight. Depending on which tooth is broken and where the break is, your pet may have a lot of pain with his broken tooth, or may barely notice anything going on. If you can see that your dog or cat has a broken tooth, it needs to be checked out by a veterinarian. Some broken teeth can be left alone, but others may need to be pulled to prevent pain and infection. Dental care is important for all of our pets! Bring your dog or cat in (no appointment needed) for our veterinarians to check out your pet’s mouth. They can give you recommendations on if your pet needs a dental cleaning, food and treat options to help keep your pet’s mouth healthy, and good types of toys for those chewers in your family! The Princeton Veterinary Hospital is always here when you need us, and always accepts new patients. Call us at 812-385-2733 if you have any questions, or bring your animals in for an exam during our regular hours, no appointment required. Up for Adoption at GC AnimalServices