If your cat or pooch decides to yawn right in your face, your first reaction might be to turn your nose away as soon as possible! However, that stinky breath might be an indication of a serious issue with your pet’s teeth, gums or internal organs. The oral health care of your furry friends is highly significant and, to highlight its importance, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will once again sponsor National Pet Dental Health Month this February.
Your pet’s dental health should be a year-round priority! Let Valley Animal Hospital help you keep their teeth nice and healthy today.
Healthy Mouths are a Must
It’s important to understand that regular dental checkups can be the best line of defense in maintaining your pet’s oral health. As your pet’s best friend, always remember to keep a lookout for any signs of poor dental health so you can take action before an issue gets out of hand.
In a previous blog post, the veterinarians at Valley Animal Hospital of McAllen shared an in-depth look at some of the most common signs of poor dental health in your dogs. Now, to help you read the signs of poor dental health in other pets, we want to show you some more symptoms:
- Inflamed gums
- Breath that smells like rotten egg
- Broken or loose teeth
- Discolored teeth covered in tartar
- Chewing unnaturally, drooling and dropping food
- Bloody mouth
- Shying away when you attempt to touch them close to the mouth
- Constant pawing or touching of the face/mouth
- Decrease in appetite
- Refusing to eat and subsequent weight loss
Share the Love!
To raise awareness for this cause, the AVMA is encouraging the public to post pictures of their pet’s beautiful and healthy set of pearly whites on the National Pet Dental Health Month Facebook page. You can also post your pictures on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #PetDental.
At Valley Animal Hospital, we also want to encourage you to take proactive action for your pet’s dental health – whether they’re furry, fuzzy or finned! If you feel as if your pet is exhibiting symptoms of poor dental health, don’t hesitate to contact us in McAllen today.
