Well actually, it's Pet Dental Month pretty much everywhere in keeping with AVMA (the American Veterinary Medical Association) who promotes dental care this month.
On the Embrace blog, we'll be talking about pet insurance and dental accidents, illness, and wellness - all of which Embrace covers.
But first, some basic facts about pet teeth you might not have known:
- dogs and cats can have crowns, root canals, and even braces - yes, it's absolutely true. But you don't want dental issues to get to the point where you need these treatments, so...
- many dentists recommend you brush your dog or cat's teeth - twice a day if you can manage it
- cats can only move their jaws up or down, not side to side, which means that there are no chew toys for cleaning their teeth. Cats should always have their teeth cleaned by a professional.
- human toothpaste is not good for cats and dogs - too much flouride and of course, they just swallow the toothpaste without rinsing. Get them a product that's meant specifically for cats or dogs
- dental disease has been linked to heart disease in certain forms
- some cats have a dental floss fetish - flush the floss after you've finished, don't throw it in an open bin (yes, really. A friend's cat had a foot and a half of dental floss pulled from her stomach - she nearly died).
I have to admit, I do not brush my cats' teeth. Do you brush your dog or cat's teeth?
PS. Anyone got a good Lolcat oneliner for the picture above? I need some inspiration...
