A Tale of Two Kittens and One Puppy » National pet dental health month

I mentioned a little while ago that the boys were scheduled for their first dental. Today is the day. I need all the good vibes I can get. I know that dentals are routine, but in my 20 years of companion animal “ownership”, these are my first animals to get dentals.

I felt like such a traitor this morning. The boys are trained to go into the carriers, and actually enjoy hanging out in them, so getting them in the carrier was no problem at all. Their first clue that this wasn’t a normal morning was when they weren’t allowed back out of their carriers. And then, of course, there was the dreaded car ride. The yowling.

Simba managed to pee in the carrier, something he’s never done before. Guess he just really needed to go. And Gizmo, yet again, bloodied his nose by banging it against the wire grate in the front of the carrier.

According to Pets Need Dental Care, Too Website:

Without proper dental care, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.

The boys are almost five, actually, and this is their first dental. But I do brush their teeth.

Brush their teeth, you say? Most people never even think about brushing their animals teeth. It really isn’t that hard, with the proper tools:

Some people have success using:
- Their finger
- Their finger wrapped with gauze
- A finger tip brush
- A toothbrush made for animals
I use a toothbrush made for animals.
Enzymatic toothpaste. Supposedly it will help tartar buildup just by being on their teeth, but obviously some brushing motion is more beneficial. I use CET poultry flavor. They love the taste; in fact, both Chester and Simba are happy to go back for seconds.
Patience, and lots of it! Start off slowly. Just let them lick the toothpaste off at first. As they get used to having your finger or a toothbrush in their mouth, gently begin to move it around. Work up to longer and longer times.

And remember, periodontal disease, left untreated, can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Once the bacteria is in the blood, it can attack the heart, liver, and/or kidneys.

Even with all that tooth brushing, your pets may need cleanings at regular intervals. The good news is that many vets are offering a discount because it’s national pet dental health month. My vet didn’t, unfortunately, but I got offers from other vets I’ve gone to over the years for 10% and 20% off dentals during the month of February.

Don’t wait — make an appointment today.

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