While our dog and cat family members have their own unique personalities, dental disease in pets is similar to that in humans. As we have seen time and again on toothpaste commercials, teeth that are not taken care of can lead to a build-up of plaque that if left unchecked, can cause infection of the gums and loss of the bone that holds our teeth in place. Dogs and cats are also more prone to trauma to their teeth due to things like falling, playing and chewing on objects that are too hard. Having the teeth examined yearly by a veterinarian provides an opportunity to address any ongoing problems with the teeth and gum along with the help of the pet parent to prevent potentially serious issues in the future.
Jeanne Perrone, MS, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)
