You know what it’s like when you have a toothache but do you know how Rover and Kitty feel?
August is Pet Dental Health Month and Animal Welfare League NSW is urging all pet owners to book their canine and feline buddies in for an oral care assessment. And, as an added incentive, AWL is offering free dental checks for the first 100 bookings it receives at its Kemps Creek Veterinary Hospital.
Have an AWL vet look inside your pet’s mouth so they can assess and suggest treatment to fix current problems and prevent minor problems developing into something bigger. Unchecked conditions can lead to a host of issues like chronic gum disease, bacteria and poisons from dental infections that may spread to the gut, heart or liver.
“An annual dental health check is just as important for a pet as it is for us humans,” says AWL Senior Veterinarian, Dr Laura Brown. “As the saying goes, prevention is so much better than cure and that is particularly so with pets because even minor treatment can require your pet to undergo anaesthetic surgery.”
“Dental decay is prevalent in dogs and cats beyond two to three years of their lives,” Dr Laura adds. “And once a dog gets to seven years old or more there is almost a 100% chance that they will have some decay.”
Plaque and tartar build up on animals teeth just like they do in humans which is why many vets also suggest brushing a dog’s teeth (a little harder with cats). It is also important to ensure that the animal’s diet contains foods that help to dislodge particles and remove build-up which is why many vets suggest a dry food and, for dogs, bones and dental sticks.
During Pet Dental Health Month Animal Welfare League is also offering 10 percent discount on all dental work undertaken and over-the counter dental products (food, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwashes).
To book in your free dental health check, call the AWL Veterinary Hospital during August on 8777 4424.
Five things that indicate your pets needs a dental check:
1. Loss of appetite in your pet
2. Red marks on their teeth (could be bacteria)
3. Unusually bad breath
4. Inflamed gums
5. Animals dropping their food when they try to eat