Dental Health

Vante has been on her best behavior this week.  Enough so that we were able to leave all the doors in the house open while we were out and about running errands.  She has either chilled out in her old age or realized that if she leaves the other cats alone, they'll return the favor.

I have scheduled Vante's dental for 24 July.  I'll be doing the dental myself as part of my vet tech training and she'll get the best care ever!  She'll have some sparkly white teeth afterwards and fresh breath too.  I'm very excited about it but somehow I doubt she feels the same. I'll get some before & after photos of Vante's teeth cleaning to show ya'll what a difference it can make.

Here are some interesting facts regarding keeping your pet's mouth clean. 
Dry food vs. Wet food-->doesn't matter when it comes to your pet's tooth health.  Unless you're using prescription dental food diets; this food is large and must be chewed & it allows teeth to sink in and scrapes away plaque before breaking.  Most dry food is brittle and breaks too easily to scrape away anything from the teeth.

Chew toys-->hit yourself with the toy first, if it hurts, then don't give it to your pet b/c it's hard enough to break a tooth

Brushing their teeth-->using a soft-bristled toothbrush is the most effective!  Use pet toothpaste (not human), it is designed to taste good.  It is best to brush their teeth daily.

There are gels & things that you can put into their water to improve dental health.  Talk to your veterinarian to see what they recommend and make the best decision for you and your pet.  Remember, healthy, pain-free teeth will lead to better overall health for your pet.