{"id":303,"date":"2018-02-06T14:24:40","date_gmt":"2018-02-06T19:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/?p=303"},"modified":"2020-08-13T15:00:34","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T20:00:34","slug":"pet-dental-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/pet-dental-care\/","title":{"rendered":"The Crux of the Matter: How Regular Pet Dental Care Reduces Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"petWhen we\u2019re in the dentist\u2019s chair, we\u2019re at the mercy of the technician measuring the pockets between our teeth and gums. Sometimes, a single pocket can be large enough to create painful problems for us, and the same is true for our pets. A normal depth in dogs is about 3 mm; in cats, it\u2019s 1mm. When pockets measure between 4-5mm, it\u2019s really important to get on the ball. Without routine pet dental care<\/a>, your pet could be in for a world of hurt.<\/p>\n

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What Happens in Pockets<\/h3>\n

The space between a single tooth and the surrounding gums is called the gingival sulcus. When pockets grow in size, bacteria infect healthy tissue and break it down. Eventually, a pocket can grow large enough to make the gums detach from the tooth, jeopardizing its health and future.<\/p>\n

Periodontal Disease<\/h3>\n

Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria infect the roots and structures of the teeth and gums. The infection grows over time, causing loose, broken, and missing teeth. Not just a problem in the mouth, periodontal disease can result in systemic illness when bacteria seep into the bloodstream, affecting the major organs.<\/p>\n

Prevention is the Solution<\/h3>\n

While we can treat mild periodontal disease, it remains critical to keep up with teeth brushing<\/a> at home several times a week. We also check your pet\u2019s teeth and gums during their regular wellness examination 1-2 times a year. If we notice excessive tartar growth, bleeding gums, inflammation, or other problems, we may pursue a dental cleaning under anesthesia and order a full set of digital radiographs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Professional Pet Dental Care<\/h3>\n

Since periodontal disease causes the most damage beneath the gum line, x-rays are critical to get while your pet is anesthetized for their cleaning, exam, or procedure. We will clean and polish the teeth, remove any signs of infection, and provide instructions for at home pet dental care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s brushing, dental chews, or a special diet (or a combination of all three), we\u2019re committed to keeping pet dental care a top priority.<\/p>\n

Pets are likely to hide signs of illness or injury. Please look for the following signs of poor pet dental care<\/a> and\/or periodontal disease:<\/p>\n