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10 Reasons Why You Should Take Care of Your Pet's Teeth
Rylee McCallion • Dec 02, 2020

Dental Care is crucial for our pet's health.

Proper dental hygiene is crucial for your dog or cat's overall health. Here are 10 reasons why your pet's dental health is something that needs to be taken care of.

  1. A pet with healthy teeth also means a pet with a longer and healthier life. Poor oral health can shorten your pet's lifespan by 3 years.
  2. Dental disease can lead to problems with your pet's organs. The bacteria that causes plaque and tartar can enter the bloodstream damaging the liver, kidneys and heart muscles.
  3. A pet with healthy teeth means better breath! We all know our pet's breath isn't the greatest. Taking care of their teeth can leave their breath smelling fresh!
  4. Caring for your pet's teeth can actually prevent other health problems. Gum disease and tooth decay can lead to infections and make your pet sick.
  5. We need to brush our teeth regularly - Why wouldn't we brush our pet's teeth? Dogs and cats can't floss or get things off their teeth as easily as we can. Yes, dogs do love to chew which can help pick away at tartar but it's not going to prevent more plaque and tartar from building up. Cats especially need proper dental care since they don't chew as much and usually eat softer foods which can stick to their teeth.
  6. Pets that don't get good dental care can end up being in a lot of pain. We know how bad tooth pain can feel. The pain can radiate for dogs and cats just like it does for us. If your pet has a sensitive spot by their ears or on their muzzle but there's nothing there, it could mean a tooth is bothering them. Pets are also very good at hiding pain. If we don't check their teeth daily or even rub along their snout to check for any sensitivity, we may not be aware of a serious dental problem until its more advanced.
  7. We all know that dentals are a procedure pets can have done at the Vet's office. What a lot of owners don't realize is that dentals aren't meant to be the only dental care your pets get. A pet needing constant dentals doesn't mean they have good oral health. Once your pet has a dental it can turn into a vicious cycle if we do not maintain their teeth at home. Since they do have to be put under it's not something you always want to put them through. If we don't brush their teeth at home eventually when they go in for a dental they will need extractions. Getting teeth pulled is an added painful process they have to go through and adjusting to having less teeth can make some animals not enjoy food or treats as much because it's harder to chew.
  8. Retained baby teeth can cause problems for pets. Full grown dogs have 42 teeth and full grown cats have 30 teeth. Just like humans before all of their adult teeth grow in their baby teeth have to fall out. Sometimes not all their baby teeth will come out. Which can lead to gum irritation and tartar buildup. This is something you can psychically see, the adult tooth will grow in right next to the baby tooth.
  9. Did you know that 85% of dogs and 70% of cats will have some form of periodontal disease by the age of 3? Dental disease can happen very quickly for pets, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do anything for prevention. Dental disease is the number one medical problem in pets today. It can cause them a lot of pain and a whirlwind of other health issues.
  10. Our pets' teeth wear out! Pets use their teeth for everything. Eventually their teeth can become worn and become less strong. When this happens it can cause sensitivity and pain. We have fluoride in human dental products to keep our teeth strong but it is a toxic chemical that cannot be used for pets. It's our responsibility as pet owners to make sure their teeth stay healthy. There are other options besides brushing. While brushing is the ideal there are dental wipes, dental sprays and dental powders you can add to their food, plenty of options to choose from to suit whatever level of involvement you want. Ideally we should brush our pet's teeth every day but brushing a minimum of 3 times a week is recommended. The most important thing is to do something for your pet's teeth.

Muzzle Misconceptions: Why they are useful

By Rylee McCallion • 16 Nov, 2020
Let's talk muzzles.  A muzzle is a device placed around a dog's snout to prevent biting or otherwise opening their mouth. Muzzles are actually a safety tool when used properly and can be quite helpful. There are situations when you should use a muzzle and there are definitely situations when you should not use one. Unfortunately society has placed a negative stereotype on a dog wearing a muzzle and it's unfair that a dog seen wearing one is deemed aggressive or dangerous because often times that is very far from the truth. Having worked in the dog world since I was 17, I've seen many situations where dogs who were nervous, or needed some space from other dogs found confidence after muzzle training and it benefited them greatly. From my personal point of view, when I see a dog wearing a muzzle, I appreciate the responsibility the owner has taken and feel reassured that they are keeping their own dog safe and caring for the safety of others. There are specific times you should NOT use a muzzle. Never use a muzzle to curb or attempt to fix a behavioral problem or use it as a punishment. Muzzles are not supposed to be used to stop your dog from barking, chewing, excessively licking, or play biting. Training is needed to fix these problems and there are many ways to address behavioral issues other than muzzling. It has been said that muzzles are cruel, but honestly they are only cruel when used improperly or for the wrong reasons. A poor fitting muzzle that is so tight the dog cannot pant is cruel. A muzzle should fit so that it is secure but still comfortable for your dog. If your dog hasn't been conditioned to wear one and it's something they aren't used to, it can be scary and upsetting to your dog if you just force a muzzle onto their face without preparing them. There are definitely times the use of a muzzle can be appropriate, if a dog is nervous or anxious around certain people or in certain situations a muzzle might be needed for everyone's safety. Muzzles allow a dog to succeed and feel more confident. If a dog needs some space because, just like people, dogs need space from others, or if they are reactive, a muzzle is the best tool to ensure everyone's safety. If a dog is recovering from an injury or if they were injured and first aid is needed muzzling is very appropriate. An injured animal that is scared and in pain may not react as you expect. Even if the dog is always extremely even tempered, they could still snap or bite when scared and in pain. In our pet first aid & CPR classes we talk about conditioning your dog to wear a muzzle so that if an emergency situation happens, applying a muzzle is not an additional cause of fear or stress. To be successful, muzzle conditioning must occur ahead of time and can be incorporated into a dog's daily/weekly routine. You need to teach your dog ahead of time that a muzzle is okay and you need to make it a positive experience for them. Many dogs can learn to love wearing a muzzle, we humans just have to teach them in the right way.

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