August is Pet Dental Month

August is Pet Dental Month

The Bunbury and Eaton Vet Clinics will be running a Pet Dental Month promotion throughout August to raise awareness of pet dental problems, prevention and treatment.

An initiative of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), the aim of the campaign is to educate pet owners about the benefits of annual dental health checks and regular tooth brushing.

It is known that four out of five dogs and cats over the age of three years have some sort of dental disease which may go unnoticed by their owners.

Pets often won’t show pain. Even pets with sore gums, infected mouths and broken teeth will continue to eat so owners may not see any problems.

So how can you tell if your dog or cat has a toothache?

Your pet’s breath should not smell bad. Bad breath is a sign of infection. Gums may be red and inflamed, the teeth caked with tartar, or they may start dropping food.

Annual dental health checks are an ideal opportunity for owners to find out if their pet has existing problems which have gone unnoticed. Dental health checks also help ensure bacteria and poisons from dental infections do not break into the blood-stream and spread to distant organs like the heart, liver and kidneys.

We also recommend regular tooth brushing and many cats and dogs can be trained to enjoy having their teeth brushed, especially if you start at an early age.

About 80 per cent of adult animals have some degree of dental disease which normally becomes more severe with age, so make sure you take advantage of the Pet Dental Month. Prevention or early intervention is the best option for your pet’s ongoing health.

During August, the Bunbury and Eaton Vet Clinics will be offering a $20 discount on dental checks. It is also an opportunity for your pet to have a full health check and discuss any other issues you may have.