The Pet Sit Blog

80 percent of adults do it twice a day, but what about your pets?

February 4, 2010

Posted in: Uncategorized

The American Dental Association estimates that almost 80 percent of adults brush their teeth at least twice a day.  In honor of Pet Dental Health Month we want to know how often you brush your pet’s teeth?

An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society.  Periodontal disease is a common problem in dogs, particularly smaller breeds.

Signs of tooth decay and oral disease include bad breath, tooth discoloration and tarter buildup.

The following tips will help keep your pet’s teeth healthy:

• Inspect your pet’s teeth regularly.
• Brush your pet’s teeth weekly, if not daily.
• Feed your pet crunchy food and crunchy treats.
• Focus more attention brushing the back of your dog’s teeth because tarter builds up more quickly on the back of canine teeth.
• Vet visits should include a complete checkup of your pet’s teeth.
• Be patient, most pets won’t enjoy this new regimen at first.  Remember how much you enjoy trips to the dentist?

For more information on Pet Dental Health Month, please visit the official Web site.