Some Facts About Periodontal Disease
The first sign of periodontal disease is halitosis - “bad breath”! If your pet has bad breath, periodontal disease is probably present under the gums. Gums that bleed easily will accompany this odor in the early stage.
Infected gums hurt and can be a “seed of infection” for internal organs! Red gums are infected and painful. The real problem is that most of the infection is below the gum line, making it invisible to us. Periodontal disease causes the gum and bone to separate from the tooth roots, which results in tearing of the blood vessels below the gum line. This provides an open route for bacteria to the bloodstream, resulting in potential infection in the liver, kidney, heart, brain and spinal cord.
Periodontal disease causes the loss of teeth! As the disease progresses, it continues to separate the tooth root from its attachment to the gum, eventually resulting in the loss of the tooth.
A pet’s infected mouth has public health significance! It is possible for you to develop infections from contact with the saliva of a pet with periodontal disease. This contact may come from the pet licking you in the face, or getting saliva on your hands that touch your face or eyes. This is one way you can contract conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
New evidence links periodontal disease to medical problems in pregnant women! Pregnant women with periodontal disease are 7 times more likely to have a premature or low birth weight baby. People with periodontal disease are twice as likely to have heart attacks. Periodontal disease doubles the likelihood of a stroke.
THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT 3 EASY STEPS HELP AVOID PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND ADD 2-4 YEARS TO THE LIFE OF YOUR PET
A semi-annual physical examination of your pet by a veterinarian from All Creatures Veterinary Clinic. Remember that pets age much faster than we do!
Routine dental prophylactic cleanings, even if dental plaque and tartar is not severe. Remember that what we don’t see is much more important than what we do see!
Use the appropriate vet recommended dental home care hygiene product that will benefit YOUR pet the most.