Reminder to pet owners: invest in dental prevention, save on dental diseases

Feb. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- On behalf of National Pet Dental Health Month, Adobe Animal Hospital reminds local Peninsula pet owners that their canines and felines need dental hygiene, just like they do.  After all, dental disease, which occurs when plaque build-up goes unheeded, is the most common infectious disease among our four-legged loved ones.
“We humans brush our teeth at least once a day to get rid of bacteria and to freshen our breath, yet we ignore our pets’ ‘doggie breath’ at their peril,” said Lisa Dean, dental technician at Adobe Animal Hospital.  “It’s hard to imagine what our teeth, mouth and eventually our organs would be like if we didn’t brush regularly.
“When dental plaque accumulates it causes inflammation and bleeding, and foul breath odor. Plaque build-up leads to infection and decay of the bone surrounding the teeth, as well as bacteria overload that could result in heart and kidney disease.”
The good news is that most dental disease is preventable, reversible or treatable through pet dental care and regular home care.  The American Veterinarian Medical Association's (AVMA) recommended treatment is to have your pet examined by a veterinarian, followed by a professional dental cleaning, which includes scaling and polishing of all surfaces of the teeth.
Routine hygiene care at home should include brushing with a toothbrush and veterinary formulated toothpaste, plus veterinary dental diets, dental treats and water.
You and your veterinarian play a key role in maintaining your pet’s oral health, which is important to the overall health and well-being of your furry family member.  So if your pet has “dog’s breath,” don’t ignore it; it could be a sign of a serious disease.
For more information about dental services at Adobe animal Hospital call 650-209-9305.

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Adobe Animal Hospital, based in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, is a full service, high tech pet hospital with over 100 veterinarians and technicians offering general pet care services, chronic illness care, dental care, state-of-the-art surgeries and a pharmacy, as well as online pet services.