It’s February - also known as Pet Dental Health Month! At Wheatland, we believe animals deserve to have healthy, comfortable teeth. Check out these 4 dental disease facts:
1. It is estimated that 85% of dogs get dental disease by the age of 3. Although this number may seem high, it should not be surprising when compared to people. Think of it this way: if a person didn’t brush, floss, or see the dentist for 3 years, they would be very likely to have dental disease. So it isn’t surprising that many dogs have disease by age 3.
2. Not all dental disease is a hygiene problem. A process called resorption is very common in cats and somewhat common in dogs. The enamel or cementum (tooth lining below the gumline) erodes away, causing sensitivity. Once the erosion makes it to the nerve canal, it is very painful. More than 50% of cats will have resorptive lesions in their lifetime. The only treatment is extraction of affected teeth.
3. Dog and cat teeth are commonly broken because they are not very durable. Chewing hard items is a common cause of tooth fracture in animals. The most common fracture of dog teeth is a vertical slab fracture of the largest chewing tooth on the upper jaw. Many dogs are given hard items, such as deer antlers, which are much more durable than teeth. When chewed with vigor, the teeth break before the chewing item does.
4. In cats, the pain from dental disease is proven to lead to respiratory, urinary, and gastrointestinal problems. Cats are notorious for internalizing stress, however the stress from mouth pain leads to flares of the above systems. A major part of treating respiratory, urinary, and GI conditions is removing painful teeth. Thankfully, this is tremendously helpful.
Call us at (630) 904-2020 to schedule your pet’s appointment.