- It hurts! Dental disease is painful. Even if your pet may not tell you anything is wrong, and may eat ok, that doesn’t mean they aren’t experiencing pain. This is because dogs and cats can be quite stoic about dental pain and usually have a very strong feeding instinct, but as anyone who has had a toothache can tell you, it’s not comfortable.
- Dental disease is an infection. This has not only serious effects on the mouth, but systemic effects as well, such as kidney disease, heart disease, as well as taxing the immune system. Ultimately, this can shorten a pet’s life significantly.
- Halitosis, or bad breath. This unpleasant symptom caused by bacteria in the mouth and often results in harm to the relationship owners have with their pets. No one wants to be close to their pet if the odor from their mouth is overpowering.
- If left unrecognized and untreated, dental disease often causes irreversible damage.
- Did we mention it hurts?