Dental Care for Your Pets is not negotiable

1. Dental Care for Your Pets is not negotiable Those of us that love our pets – as most of us do – like they are members of the family will do everything in our power to ensure they are healthy, happy and well cared for. Therefore we feed them, play with them, walk them, give them shelter – and show them abundant love. Loving your pet also means you will make sure they visit the vet when they are unwell, but not only then – also to pick up any problems early on. By taking them for regular checkups the vet may establish early on if they need preventive care in any way or form. This includes taking good care of the pet in terms of their dental health too. The vet will establish whether the pet’s teeth are good, and if not, what to do about that. Of course it is important that the pet owner knows too that their pet’s teeth are in good condition and what to do to keep it that way for as long as possible. The reasons for making sure the dog’s – or the cat’s – teeth are in good condition speak for themselves: the animal will not have smelly breath; it may help to prevent serious problems such as not eating well and therefore losing weight – and falling ill. Therefore you always need to be aware of the state of your pet’s teeth. In addition to checking up on their teeth yourself – which may not be all that easy as most of us know

2. – it is a very good idea to take the dog and cat for regular dental checkups. This could well be done at the same time that you take the pet in for their annual – or bi-annual – health check, unless you notice a problem before the scheduled check-up. Then you do not waste time but book a dental check immediately with your vet. The standard or regular dental check-up for your pet will involve checking for bad breath, signs of gum disease, broken or chipped teeth and signs of plaque build-up, just like you, their owner, need to be checked for problems every few months. If these conditions, such as gingivitis, for example, are not picked up early, other problems could develop such as harmful bacteria that could find their way into the bloodstream that could lead to heart and kidney problems, for example. This is in addition to the pet losing a tooth or more – often a painful experience for them. Therefore it is good practice to expose your puppy at a young age to a visit to the

3. vet in order to ensure the pet’s teeth stay good for as long as possible, and that any problems can be seen to even at a young age. Of course you can also do your bit at home. There are products such as dental paste out there to expose the pup to from early on. Rub some on their gums from early on; this helps them to get used to having their mouths, gums and teeth touched. It will make it so much easier for you to clean their teeth, also when they’re older. By getting them used to this, you will be able to gently brush their teeth with a soft brush regularly to remove dirt and food particles that my cause rot later on, and you will help to prevent plaque from collecting on the teeth. Do this regularly, even more than once a week. Also ask your vet for products to apply to their teeth and gums to help prevent bacteria. All of this will help to prevent periodontal disease and unnecessary suffering for the animal – and your own anguish. Of course visiting the vet for a scheduled cleaning is still a highly recommended procedure. At the vet’s practice the assistant or trained vet assistant will make sure that your dog or cat receives a through dental cleaning to remove plaque – and to check for possible mouth and teeth problems.

4. At Powell Veterinary Service we offer all pet owners almost 30 years of dedicated, unrivalled service to ensure their pets remain healthy and happy. We offer great experience and are proud of the services we offer with regard to all aspects of animal care. We perform surgeries, we spay and neuter, we offer boarding facilities and we provide puppies for different activities that appeal to our clients. At PVS we also offer a wellness service for pets to ensure any conditions are picked up early. We are Kersey, CO based and serve the surrounding areas. We are available by appointment, but also for emergency situations. Pets are our passion and we ensure that your animal receives excellent treatment from our practice. For more about us please visit https://powellvets.com/