Photos: Blaj Gabriel/BigStock.com, Audrey Kuzmin/BigStock.com, arenacreative/BigStock.com44
PETS | Health and wellbeing
August http://www.facebook.com/petsmagazine
Did you know keeping
your pet’s teeth and gums
in tip-top shape is key to
their general health and
wellbeing? Mel Hearse^
fi nds out how to care for
your pet’s mouth and
what to watch for.k kkk ii
DENTAL DENTAL
HEALTHHEALTH
Dental disease is incredibly
common in cats and dogs.veterinarian Dr Joanna Paul of Creature
Clinic says. “This builds up around the gum
line and causes pain and tooth loss.” Poor
dental health also has implications beyond
animals’ mouths — bodily infections occur
when bacteria from an infection in the
mouth enters the bloodstream. Dr Joanna
says treatment for dental disease, once
progressed, requires general anaesthesia and
potentially invasive dentistry, while simple
preventative measures can reduce the risk
of severe dental problems later in life.
“Dental disease can have an enormous
impact on overall health. High levels of oral
bacteria can fatigue the immune system
of your pet. It can provide a gateway for
disease-causing bacteria to enter the blood
stream,” Dr Matthew Muir, an integrative
veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, says.
Left untreated, dental disease can
compromise liver, kidney and heart function.
“We often see bio-markers of liver distress
elevated in our patients on blood screening
when marked dental disease is present,”
Dr Matthew says.Dental disease is incredibly common in
cats and dogs, and looking at their teeth
and gums is one of the most important
things you can do for their lifelong health
and wellbeing.
“Teeth that are not cared for properly
quickly accumulate plaque, then calculus,”PLF070_pg044-046_Dental Health Month.indd 44PLF070_pg044-046_Dental Health Month.indd 44 6/19/2017 2:41:49 PM6/19/2017 2:41:49 PM