DO OUR PETS need dental care? The answer is yes. But wait, wild animals don’t get dental care and they seem to have good teeth, right? Actually, wild animal dental health isn’t quite what it seems. While their diets consist of less tooth decay-causing sugar and carbs, they also don’t usually survive serious dental problems. Pets, on the other hand, have humans to keep taking care of them, and we should take care of their teeth too.
Pet Dental Health Problems
Just like human mouths, animal mouths contain bacteria that produces plaque. If it’s allowed to build up, plaque becomes tartar and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. The trouble with pets is that they can’t directly let us know something is wrong with their teeth, and they can’t take care of their own teeth or explain what they feel to a dentist, so it’s easy to miss the signs.
As many as 85% of cats and dogs develop periodontal disease by the time they’re three years old. Symptoms include trouble chewing, loose teeth, and bad breath, but it can also cause more serious symptoms like bleeding or swollen gums, tooth loss, and reduced appetite. Pet owners should be on the watch for these signs so that they can address any problems before they get worse.
Basic Pet Dental Care Tips
As important as it is to keep an eye out for symptoms, it’s better to simply maintain a good pet dental hygiene routine. Prevention is better than a cure, whether we’re talking about human dental health or pet dental health! Here are a few basic things you can do for your furry friend:
- Brush their teeth daily.
- Only use veterinary toothpaste (yours will make them sick).
- Get the vet’s recommendations for dental treats.
- Have their teeth professionally cleaned. This could be through the regular vet or through a veterinary dental specialist.
Establishing a Brushing Routine
Just as dogs and cats can’t tell us when there’s something wrong with their teeth, they also can’t understand the benefit of brushing them, so sometimes it can be tricky getting them to accept a daily brushing. We recommend brushing when they’re calm, getting down on their level so it’s less intimidating, testing their willingness for brushing by running a finger over their upper gums, and making sure they like the flavor of the veterinary toothpaste.
Healthy Teeth Mean Happier Pets!
There’s nothing better to a pet owner than seeing your pet happy and energetic. A great way we can help them stay that way is by taking care of their teeth. If you’d like to learn more about pet dental care or if you’re struggling to get your pet used to a dental hygiene routine, don’t hesitate to take advantage of resources like the veterinarian or our practice!
Je, Wanyama Wetu wa Pwani Wanahitaji Matibabu ya Meno? Jibu ni ndiyo. Lakini subiri, wanyama wa porini hawapati huduma ya meno na wanaonekana kuwa na meno mazuri, sawa? Kwa kweli, afya ya meno ya wanyama wa porini si kama inavyoonekana. Ingawa vyakula vyao vina sukari na wanga wachache unaosababisha kuoza kwa meno, kwa kawaida hawawezi kuokoka matatizo makubwa ya meno. Kwa upande mwingine, wanyama wa kufugwa wana wanadamu wanaowatunza, na tunapaswa kutunza meno yao pia. Matatizo ya meno ya wanyama wa kufugwa: Kama vile vinywa vya wanadamu, vinywa vya wanyama vina bakteria zinazozalisha plaque. Ikiwa inaruhusiwa kujilimbikizia, plaque inakuwa tartar na inaweza kusababisha kuoza kwa meno na ugonjwa wa taya. Tatizo la wanyama ni kwamba hawawezi moja kwa moja kutujulisha kitu ni makosa na meno yao, na hawawezi kutunza meno yao wenyewe au kueleza nini wanahisi kwa daktari wa meno, hivyo ni rahisi kukosa ishara. Zaidi ya asilimia 85 ya paka na mbwa huugua ugonjwa wa periodontal kabla ya umri wa miaka mitatu. Dalili za ugonjwa huo ni kama vile matatizo ya kutafuna, meno yaliyovunjika, na pumzi mbaya, lakini pia inaweza kusababisha dalili mbaya zaidi kama vile kutokwa na damu au uvimbe wa taya, kupoteza meno, na kupungua kwa hamu ya kula. Wamiliki wa wanyama wanapaswa kuwa makini na dalili hizo ili waweze kushughulikia matatizo yoyote kabla ya kuzidi kuwa mabaya. Maelezo ya msingi ya utunzaji wa meno ya wanyama wa kipenzi Ingawa ni muhimu kuzingatia dalili, ni bora tu kudumisha utaratibu mzuri wa usafi wa meno ya wanyama wa kipenzi. Kuzuia ni bora kuliko kutibu, iwe tunazungumza juu ya afya ya meno ya binadamu au afya ya meno ya wanyama wa kufugwa! Hapa kuna mambo machache ya msingi unayoweza kufanya kwa rafiki yako mwenye manyoya: - Fua meno yake kila siku. - Tumia tu dawa ya meno ya mifugo (yako itawafanya wagonjwa). - Kupata mapendekezo ya daktari wa mifugo kwa ajili ya matibabu ya meno. - Weka meno yao yasafishwe na mtaalamu. Hii inaweza kuwa kupitia daktari wa mifugo wa kawaida au kupitia mtaalamu wa meno ya mifugo. Kama vile mbwa na paka hawawezi kutuambia wakati kuna kitu kibaya na meno yao, hawawezi pia kuelewa faida ya kuifuta, kwa hivyo wakati mwingine inaweza kuwa ngumu kuwafanya wakubali brushing ya kila siku. Tunapendekeza kupiga mswaki wakati wao ni utulivu, kupata chini ya ngazi yao hivyo ni chini ya kutisha, kupima utayari wao kwa kupiga mswaki kwa kukimbia kidole juu ya gum yao, na kuhakikisha wao kama ladha ya dawa ya meno ya mifugo. Meno yenye afya humaanisha wanyama-vipenzi wenye furaha zaidi! Hakuna kitu bora kwa mmiliki wa mnyama kuliko kuona mnyama wako furaha na nguvu. Njia bora ya kuwasaidia wawe na afya nzuri ni kwa kutunza meno yao. Kama unataka kujifunza zaidi kuhusu pet meno ya huduma au kama wewe ni mapambano ya kupata pet yako kutumika kwa ajili ya afya ya meno ya kawaida, usisite kuchukua faida ya rasilimali kama vile daktari wa mifugo au mazoezi yetu!