Most pet owners realize how important it is to take their animals to a veterinarian for routine examinations and preventative care. Many of them also take their dogs and cats to professional groomers for pet cleaning in Alexandria VA. One area that often goes overlooked, however, is animal dental health.
Provide Adequate Oral Hygiene
Before they were domesticated, wild dogs and cats had to catch their prey to provide food for themselves. While the canned and dried dog and cat foods on today’s market provide an adequate nutritional replacement for the meat they would have caught in the wild, it does little to provide for their oral hygiene. Tearing apart prey helped to remove plaque from wild animals’ teeth; domesticated animals need some help from their human owners to accomplish this important feat.
Avoid Periodontal Disease
It’s an unfortunate fact that over 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats in America begin to show signs of developing oral diseases by the age of three. These diseases tend to start with plaque build-up. This plaque eventually becomes tarter, which can form pockets between the animal’s gums and its teeth, allowing food to accumulate and bacteria to thrive.
Periodontal Disease Leads to Serious Health Problems
If left untreated, periodontal disease can go on to cause serious heart, lung, and kidney problems. This occurs when bacteria are allowed to enter the bloodstream to wreak havoc throughout the animal’s entire system. Preventing periodontal disease is a simple matter of providing adequate at-home dental care and taking pets in for professional oral examinations and dental cleanings at least once a year.
Get Rid of Bad Breath
As in humans, bad breath in dogs and cats is one of the first signs of gum disease. There’s nothing worse than trying to give beloved furry friend attention only to find that his or her breath smells intolerably bad. Routine dental cleanings can help avoid this problem.
Get Help Now
Interested in finding out more about dental cleaning and Pet Cleaning in Alexandria VA more generally? Business Name offers comprehensive grooming services, including advanced dental care. Learn more about their services online today.