Undiagnosed dental problems can bring agony to your pet’s world.  Instead of a happy, pain-free life, they may be trying to make the best of each day with cracked, loose and abscessed teeth.

 Just as with humans, abscessed teeth are a bacterial breeding ground spreading infection via the bloodstream throughout your pet’s body, damaging their hearts, kidneys, and other organs.  The congestive heart failure that a pet is diagnosed with might have been prevented by keeping bacteria from infecting his or her heart valves.  Repeated kidney infections and the resulting damage may have been caused by trapped bacteria.  Over time, overlooked and ignored dental problems cause not only pain but a shorter life.

 The solution begins with a quick visit to your veterinarian for an examination of your pet’s mouth.  Visual signs of dental disease are red and swollen gums, a yellow-brown crust of tartar around the gum line, pain or bleeding when the gums or mouth are touched and loose or broken teeth.  If you are able, take a look for yourself.  You may be surprised at what you see.  If your pet has never had a dental or it has been over a year since the last one, it may be time for a thorough dental scaling and polishing.  Once they have their happy smiles back, then it’s your turn to help prevent or at least slow down future problems by brushing their teeth regularly.

 Help give your pet a reason to smile again!  Presented complements of Negola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital.  For more information, contact Dr. Daniel C. Negola, a Canine and Feline Specialist at 301-216-0066.  Please mention that you read this article on the Maryland Pet Gazette website!  See ad on page 64.