Did you know "brachycephalic" dogs like the bulldog and pug are more prone to dental disease?! This is because their teeth are the same size as a large dog, but put into a small, crowded mouth! There's not much room between all those teeth, so bacteria tends to get trapped causing a build-up of plaque and tartar.
You wouldn't know it with all the drooling going on when you're fixin' a home cooked meal, but dogs only have about 1700 tastebuds! Sounds like a lot, but humans have over 9000!
It's Pet Dental Health Month!
Our four-legged friends mean the world to us and we want to do the best, and be the best advocates we can for them. ❤️❤️
One area that seems to get overlooked is oral health! Why on earth would you want to stick your face and hands close to a mouth where you know Max has been eating some not so appetizing things lately?!😷
Did you know 4 out of 5 pets over the age of 3 have some sort of periodontal disease?! YUCK. It can be difficult to see unless you take a look for yourself. Dog's and cats are very good at hiding pain and aren't about to come crying to you if they have irritated gums or a broken tooth.
A mouth that has a build-up of plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay and bacteria under the gumline. This bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect major organs, such as the heart and liver.
Did you know that full grown dogs have 42 teeth?! Just like humans, dog's have baby teeth or "deciduous teeth" before the adult teeth grow in. In some cases, especially in small dogs, these teeth don't fall out and the adults grow in beside. This can cause malalignment of the teeth, which can affect chewing, and leaves less room between teeth. Food and bacteria can get caught between the teeth and cause faster decay.
Taking care of your pet's teeth routinely will avoid bigger health problems in the future and larger dental procedures, which will save you money!
Just as your dentist has likely told you that keeping a clean mouth means a healthy body, it is the same for pets as well. 😁
-->Look out for more blogs this month for tips and tools on how to keep your dog's mouth sparkling!
