The Smiles of Our Pets

February is National Pet Dental Health Month.  It's just as important to keep up with your pet's dental health as it is for you to keep up with yours.  They get tartar build-up, plague, and possible gum infections just like us.  So, as much as the idea of brushing your pet's teeth might seem strange, it's an important part of maintaining their dental health (and hey, their breath won't smell quite so bad anymore!) and overall health.  Thankfully a fair portion of pets actually end up enjoying having their teeth brushed, and you just need to make sure it happens at least three times a week.  If you miss a day its not the end of the world.  So it's not as intensive as us caring for our own teeth, but don't let that fool you about its importance.  Peridontal diseases aren't fun, and you don't want to foot the bill.

Another thing that'll make your pet's dental health stronger, and is a lot easier on you, is providing appropriate toys that'll help floss their teeth (think 100% cotton rope toys) and massage their gums (non-toxic rubber toys).

Last, but not least, is to make sure that your pet has regular dental check-ups.  Remember to get your pet's teeth professionally cleaned once in a while to keep their smile fresh and to give vets a chance to check for any issues with your pet's teeth.