February: Pet Dental Health month

If your vet is in contact with you recently, he/she may have reminded you that February is Pet Dental Health Month and a good time to focus on the benefits of good dental care for your cats and dogs.

Check out the Pet Dental Health website, which is full of tips on how to take care of your pets' teeth. There's even a video of brushing a dog's teeth if you want to give it a go.

In the meantime, some facts about pet dental health from the site:

• An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS).
• Periodontal disease is a common problem in dogs, particularly smaller breeds.
• Cats can develop painful resorptive lesions. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one of these painful lesions during their lifetime.
• Periodontal disease causes red, swollen and tender gums, receding gums, bleeding, pain and bad breath. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
  
  And finally, something you might not have known - teeth problems are not just cosmetic:
• The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease may damage other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, or lead to other serious health problems.

Hat tip to Doug, my Infoman, for the link :)