Hello furiends! Bella’s back with a new story for you all! But let me tell you, it is not a fun one.
One day, here I was minding my own business, trying to eat some kibble for the fourteenth time of the day. One bite and OUCH! The kibble hurt! After that incident, I did not feel like eating. My mom noticed and was concerned that I was acting hungry, but not eating my usual many-small-meals. Thankfully, my mom is a veterinarian! Dr. Osborne, as many humans call her, examined me and realized it was my teeth. Then, they poked my little arm, I felt very sleepy, and when I woke up a couple hours later my mouth felt funny.
After a dental cleaning and one tooth extraction, I was back to my old self – except my teeth were pearly white again!
Dental health, as I hear, is an often-forgotten aspect of pet healthcare. How would you feel if you never brushed your teeth?? Yeah, it’s a gross feeling. Something every pet parent can do at home is try brushing your furry friend’s teeth. Yes, it sounds silly, but it’s worth it! Just be sure that you are using pet toothpaste, such as the kind they carry downstairs in my clinic. (Don’t use human toothpaste! It can be toxic, not to mention minty/spicy to us cats and doggos.) My mom’s clinic sells chicken, malt, and beef-flavored toothpastes designed to clean your pet’s teeny teefies. Brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis can improve their dental health and prolong the need for a dental cleaning at my mom’s clinic. Lauren, the tall human who manages my mom’s clinic, brushes her kitty’s teeth once a day. She gives her kitty lots of paw-sitive reinforcement; pets and a treat once they are done. Even though the teeth-brushing may only last 30-45 seconds, it is the beginnings of a healthy habit for her cat, Sylvie. Dental cleanings under anesthesia are a routine part of pet care, and they should be done on a semi-regular basis, up to as often as every 6 months for those with more challenging mouths.
Rumor has it that next month, September, my mom’s clinic is running a promotion for 10% off all dental cleanings! Make sure you talk those litter-scoopers at the front desk about scheduling your pets’ appointment for dental care.