The Benefits of Strong Dental Health Practices

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Just like humans, prevention is one of the most important aspects of pet dental care. As a veterinarian, you know that a pet’s oral health is a critical part of their overall health and wellbeing. Ideally, your clients commit to a routine brushing schedule for their pet. Here are some tips for your clients to keep their pets’ smiles bright!

 

Research released by the National Library of Medicine shows that regular tooth brushing inhibits oral bacteria in dogs. If a dog’s teeth are not regularly brushed, they are more likely to develop gum disease, which can lead to bacteria entering the bloodstream, damage to the heart, liver, and kidney, and eventually premature death. Daily brushing with enzymatic toothpaste like this one or treating your pet to a dental hygiene chew can help to lessen tartar buildup and improve bad breath. To fully remove the buildup of plaque and calculus around the teeth and below the gumline, deep dental cleanings can be performed by a veterinarian.

Committing to daily brushing keeps tartar, bacteria, and plaque from building up on your dog’s teeth that can lead to dental disease and other health issues later on. In order to introduce this habit into your pet’s routine, place a small amount of toothpaste on your finger and gently rub it on your pet’s lips, gums, and teeth to familiarize your pet with the act and taste of brushing. Eventually, introduce your pet to a pet-friendly toothbrush by putting toothpaste on the bristles and allowing your pet to lick it off. Brush in small intervals until you work up to a more thorough cleaning of the teeth and gum lines.

 

Pets should receive preventative dental cleanings and evaluations every year. Dental check-ins are determined by a veterinarian on an individual basis, but are generally three to six months following the first visit. During a dental cleaning, your pet will likely be placed under general anesthesia. The veterinarian will then perform thorough dental examination tooth by tooth, teeth cleaning, plaque and tartar removal and polishing followed by a mouth examination during which the veterinarian looks for gum bleeding and periodontal pockets. Scheduling routine cleaning helps prevent the need for more serious and more expensive procedures in the future.

Your veterinarian may suggest dental health specific food or supplements that work to remove plaque and help to avoid any food buildup like dental chews. These daily supplements are tailored to your pet’s weight and can be very helpful when it comes to preventing serious disease.

 

It’s our shared goal to keep pets safe, healthy, and happy. So, if your pet clients’ dental health needs a little extra love, Mixlab is here to help. Mixlab offers an array of pain medications such as carprofen, deracoxib, meloxicam, and robenacoxib. You can also turn to us for supplements and medications that are widely accepted to treat gum, heart, kidney, or liver diseases.

 

To aid veterinarians in treating ailments like oral and dental infections, Mixlab carries customizable antibiotics including azithromycin, clindamycin, and doxycycline. We focus on preparing personalized medications in the specific strength, form, and flavor your client needs.

 

As a full-service, specialized veterinary pharmacy that offers pet med delivery across the United States, we can supply you with the pet meds needed to keep your pet clients’ oral health in check. The process of partnering with Mixlab is quick and easy and the positive results are plentiful. As a veterinarian, your job is to provide your expertise to the pets in your care—let Mixlab take care of the RX side of things so you can keep your attention on those who need you most: our furry loved ones.