Posts in Category: Pet Dental Health

Like humans, our furry companions need regular dental care to ensure they lead a life full of happy tail wags and contented purrs. At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we understand the importance of pet dental care to overall health and well-being, and we’re committed to keeping your pet’s smile bright and healthy.  

At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we understand that your pet’s wellness hinges on more than routine check-ups and vaccinations. Dental health is a cornerstone of overall vitality—this is why we emphasize the importance of yearly dental exams for your furry friends.

By the tender age of three, it’s common for pets to show signs of dental disease, which, if ignored, can lead to consequences beyond tooth loss or bad breath. Periodontal disease, for instance, doesn’t just stay confined to the mouth—it can venture into the bloodstream and potentially compromise vital organs like the heart.

Pet dental chews are touted as being essential to your pet’s oral health, but do they really work? What are the best brands? Are there better ways to care for your pet’s teeth and gums? Do you really need to worry about your pet’s dental health?

Oral hygiene is critical to your pet’s overall health and longevity, and the right dental chew has its place in their dental care plan. The team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital have gathered the facts, and we’re here to walk you through this sometimes confusing, but always important topic!

When your pet has periodontal disease, you may not even know it. This problem often sneaks up on pet owners and can be the result of persistent “we’ll get to it” syndrome. 

The fact is that most pets have some form of dental disease by the time they reach 3 years of age, and bad breath may be the only noticeable hallmark. But by the time you notice “doggy breath,” periodontal disease may be wreaking havoc in your pet’s mouth. And most of the time, it’s underneath the gum line, where neither you nor your veterinarian can see it. 

The quality of your pet’s teeth may not be up there on the list of priorities, but when it comes to their health, it should be. Most pets over the age of 3 have at least the beginnings of dental disease. Untreated dental disease not only can lead to tooth loss, pain, and abscess, but it can also create health problems with the major organs of the body, like the heart and liver. 

The great news is that you can help protect your best friend with at home pet dental care. Your team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital is here with some tips to keep that beautiful smile healthy!

If you’ve cuddled up with your pet recently and noticed their breath is less than fresh, it might be tie for a pet dental exam. Bad breath is one of the first signs of pet dental disease, a common but preventable condition.   

So common, in fact, that by the time a pet is 4 years of age, there’s an 85% chance that there is some form of dental disease present. A pet dental exam is the first step in treating and preventing the disease, and Bowman Veterinary Hospital shows you the value of this important step in your pet’s health care routine, here.

We brush our teeth twice a day, and the result of this effort (however minimal it may seem) is nothing short of astounding. We also benefit from regular professional cleanings, exams, and x-rays because the truth is, daily at-home care positively affects oral health and long-term wellness.

Applying the same principles to your pet might seem challenging at first, but the benefits to their health are incredible. With this in mind, let’s take a deeper look at why pet dental health is so important.