Because humans have tended to pets for centuries, a tendency to ‘know what’s best for our pet’ has flourished, carrying with it certain myths about our pets’ health. The vet dentists at Arrow Group of Animal Hospitals have heard them all – and frankly, they ARE myths, as they do not hold much modern truths.
Here are some of the myths our vets have heard about the health and dental well-being of pets:
MYTH: My pet is not crying, so he can’t be in pain
FACT: Actually, the majority of pets will not cry, whimper or act painful at all. In most cases, when an animal is in pain, pet owners will not have any indication of any distress. However, a marked improvement in pets’ well-being comes about AFTER treatment for dental disease.
MYTH: My pet is still eating, so he doesn’t need dental care
FACT: Most animals will continue to eat even with sore mouths and painful dental disease. That is part of their instinctual behavior. But instead of chewing, most pets will simply gulp food instead of chewing, similarly to how humans might eat with a painful mouth disease.
MYTH: My pet is old, bad teeth is what happens to older pets
FACT: Older pets can have perfectly fine teeth. Old age is not a disease. Having bad teeth is a result of plaque and tartar buildup due to missed dental checkups, with additional problems caused by possible abscessed teeth, infections or worse.
MYTH: My pet has bad breath, but that’s normal for cats and dogs
FACT: Bad breath is caused by poor pet dental health
, dental disease or more, not by species. If you smell bad breath on your pet, that’s a very strong indicator that something in their mouth is abnormal and should be checked by a veterinarian.
Forget the myths, follow the facts. Contact your local Arizona veterinarian at www.Arizonapetvet.com and get your pet’s dental care back on track. And if you come in before December 31, you can save $50 on your pet’s dental cleaning with the printable coupon on the website.