Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s Blog

As humans, dental hygiene is pretty important. Daily brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and periodic dentist visits are on most of our to-do lists. When it comes to our canine companions, though, dental care seems to fall down the list of importance. Contrary to popular belief, bad doggy breath is not the norm! Dog dental care is essential, and Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital wants to be sure your pup has primo care. 

Why Dog Dental Care?

There’s plenty of pet care advice out there, but when it comes to your pet’s health and longevity, we think dental health is a top priority. That’s because it’s one of the best ways that you, as a pet owner, can give your pet a great quality of life. 

By the time pets are 4 years of age, over 85% of them have some form of dental disease. And while totally preventable, dental disease in pets is also painful for them and can bring about a whole host of complications, from tooth fractures to gum disease and tooth loss. 

The best plan you can make is to begin a daily regimen of brushing your pet’s teeth. You heard us right.  Learning how to brush your pet’s teeth, and doing it on a regular basis, is one of the best ways to prevent tartar and plaque buildup on their teeth and stop gum disease in its tracks. 

Are you rolling your eyes or giggling a bit? Read on to learn how easy it is to brush your pet’s teeth, from Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital. 

Taking care of your pet’s teeth is one of the most important tasks, but it’s not always the easiest. Whether it’s pet resistance or financial barriers, there might always be certain obstacles in the way. 

Luckily, there are other ways to help prevent periodontal disease, such as certain readily available products that aim to promote dental health. Pet dental chews, for instance, may be all the rage, but are they truly effective?

Many cat owners probably aren’t aware that oral health disease is the most common health issue their cats face. But the fact is that by the time cats reach the age of 3, over 85% of them have some form of dental disease. And without proper feline dental care, the condition of their teeth will steadily worsen, causing swollen gums, pain, and tooth loss. Even a shortened lifespan can result from a lack of feline dental care.

So what’s a passionate cat owner to do? Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is passionate about cat health, too. So we pulled together some expert advice to help cat owners understand and prevent this common cat health threat.

We’ve all been to the dentist and held those bite wing plates in our mouth while they obtained x-rays. While a little uncomfortable for a moment, we put up with it because we know how important it is for our dentist to see what is going on under our gum line.

Many people don’t realize, however, that our pets dental care needs are no different than ours, and that includes the need to see what’s happening below the surface. Pet dental x-rays are an important part of a thorough oral examination, which is why Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital promotes them as part of a proactive pet care plan.

Another year has come to a close, and for many of us this is a time to reflect on the past twelve months, and to ponder what can be done to make the coming year even better. As exciting as it can be to forge ahead with new resolutions in 2019, taking a moment to be grateful for the good times and lessons learned in 2018 is just as important.

At Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital it is our continuing goal to provide the very best care for our patients. Offering education resources, such as our pet care blogs, is a critical part of this effort. After all, pet wellness begins in the home!

Based on reader response, we’ve compiled our most popular pet care blogs of 2018 for your reading pleasure.

If you are a regular reader, you probably already know how much we at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital  care about dental care for pets. So many animals are affected by dental disease, and addressing it can make a hugely positive impact on the well-being and happiness of our patients.

Many of our clients want to know exactly what we are looking at when we assess a pet’s oral health. Join us in learning a little more about the stages of pet dental disease so that you can do your part to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

Pet periodontal disease is the most common diagnosis for adult pets, but it’s not something you simply have to accept. In fact, prevention is fairly simple; you just need consistency, patience, and dedication. As a devoted pet owner, we know you’ve already got each of these in spades, so let’s nip pet periodontal disease in the bud!

The Scope

Pet periodontal disease isn’t something that happens overnight. Indeed, it takes a bit of time for naturally occurring oral bacteria to mix with food particles left behind in the mouth. When combined, they form plaque, a substance that hardens into tartar (calculus). Tartar will eventually begin destroying the gum tissue and bone structures around the teeth.

In the resulting pockets that form, bacteria will spread beneath the gums causing gingivitis (gum inflammation). With the support system of the teeth compromised, decay and tooth loss soon follow. Continue…

A healthy mouth is truly a healthy body for both pets and people. We (hopefully) brush our teeth every day and visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, but studies show that our pets aren’t getting the same treatment. According to the American Veterinary Dental College, most dogs and cats have some form of periodontal (gum) disease by the time they reach age three. Periodontal disease has been linked to a number of health challenges, including pain, tooth loss, and heart disease.

Preventing and treating gum disease is as crucial to your pet’s overall well-being as proper nutrition and exercise, and can even add years to their life. Your team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is committed to pet oral health, and we are here to help you get started on this important component of pet care.

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Have you noticed your pet’s breath lately? Is it less than fresh, so to speak? If so, it is time for a pet dental exam. Bad breath is often the first sign of dental disease, a common but preventable condition in pets.

It is estimated that over 80% of pets over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease, whether it’s gingivitis or periodontitis.

Regular dental exams are your first step in evaluating and preventing this disease. But, what exactly is a dental exam, and what does it show?

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