A Note on Dental Disease in Pets

Posted on

Nov 01, 2019

THE most common infectious disease in dogs and cats is periodontal disease, which is a progressive inflammatory infection of the ligament of the tooth root and gingiva. Periodontal disease causes pain, infections, and tooth loss in our pets. 80-85% of ALL pets over the age of 3 are affected.
As modern medicine and dentistry has advanced for us as pet owners, the veterinary community recognizes how serious dental disease can be for our furry companions. Just like in humans, periodontal disease is a chronic source of both moderate and severe pain for pets.
Periodontal disease can be the underlying cause of certain kinds of heart disease. It causes heart valve infections from the blood stream being constantly showered with bacteria from the mouth. Additionally, chronic inflammation from the mouth puts stress on the kidneys and infections in the mouth can make the liver work harder to clear toxins.
Please talk to your veterinarian if you are concerned about tartar or dental disease in your pet.
Editors Note: This article was submitted by Robyn Murray, DVM.
Dr. Murray is the Lead Veterinarian with Complete Companion Care and may be reached at 303-518-5687 or by email at info@cccpets.com

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