Monday, November 06, 2006Why brushing your dogs teeth is important...
Dental disease can damage pet's heart; Simple preventive care can lengthen dog's life (and stop bad breath)
6 November 2006
Charlotte Observer (NC)
Copyright 2006 The Charlotte Observer. All rights reserved.
We often joke about doggy breath, but in real life canine dental disease is no joking matter, and in fact can cause serious health consequences. Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem seen in veterinary medicine.
Infected, inflamed gums and oral tissues are painful, and the pet can lose teeth that are necessary for chewing and many other tasks (teeth are like hands). Internal organs like the heart can be slowly poisoned by bacteria that are pumped into the bloodstream with every bite. Not only that, if you're sleeping nose-to-nose with pets at night, or if they sit next to you on the couch, hound halitosis can have serious consequences for the bond you share with your pet.
A recent analysis by DataSavant, the information and knowledge branch of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, looked at 45,000 dogs with advanced periodontal disease and compared them with the same number of pets having no recorded dental disease. The two groups were matched one-on-one for gender, breed, age and location. The analysis showed that dogs with periodontal disease had more than eight times the incidence of endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart) and five times more heart murmurs.
The good news is that by practicing preventive dental care with your dog as directed by your veterinarian -- such things as brushing, dental wipes, sealants, dental diets, enzyme-impregnated chews and professional teeth cleaning -- your dog will have kissable breath, good oral health and a healthier heart.
On average, dogs with good oral health live 15 percent longer, or an average of two years.
6 November 2006
Charlotte Observer (NC)
Copyright 2006 The Charlotte Observer. All rights reserved.
We often joke about doggy breath, but in real life canine dental disease is no joking matter, and in fact can cause serious health consequences. Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem seen in veterinary medicine.
Infected, inflamed gums and oral tissues are painful, and the pet can lose teeth that are necessary for chewing and many other tasks (teeth are like hands). Internal organs like the heart can be slowly poisoned by bacteria that are pumped into the bloodstream with every bite. Not only that, if you're sleeping nose-to-nose with pets at night, or if they sit next to you on the couch, hound halitosis can have serious consequences for the bond you share with your pet.
A recent analysis by DataSavant, the information and knowledge branch of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, looked at 45,000 dogs with advanced periodontal disease and compared them with the same number of pets having no recorded dental disease. The two groups were matched one-on-one for gender, breed, age and location. The analysis showed that dogs with periodontal disease had more than eight times the incidence of endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart) and five times more heart murmurs.
The good news is that by practicing preventive dental care with your dog as directed by your veterinarian -- such things as brushing, dental wipes, sealants, dental diets, enzyme-impregnated chews and professional teeth cleaning -- your dog will have kissable breath, good oral health and a healthier heart.
On average, dogs with good oral health live 15 percent longer, or an average of two years.
posted by Anonymous @ 1:11 PM 0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home