Meet Buddy, a little dog who visited us at DogLover Animal Hospital when it became apparent there was a little problem when it came to eating. Did you know our pets also benefit from taking care of their oral health?
We've actually talked about the importance of it before, but Buddy's case is a perfect example why.
This is what an advanced case of periodontal disease looks like, which is what Buddy presented when he arrived. This problem arises when food, minerals, tartar and bacterial plaque accumulate, inflaming the gums and eventually overcoming the teeth's ligaments, these bacteria being able to get into the bloodstream and cause a much greater problem. Since in advanced cases the simple act of eating can be too painful, it was clear that a dental cleaning should be carried out as soon as possible.
A dental cleaning seeks to remove all traces of accumulated tartar with specialized equipment, and that worked out well for Buddy. Unfortunately, the damage was more severe than we would have liked, and he had to have a couple of teeth removed. In Buddy's case, the problem was treted successfully and without complications, but if you wonder if there are ways to prevent your puppy from reaching such a point, of course there are!
From hard toys or prizes to loosen accumulated leftovers, constant brushing, special food, gels, thimbles, wipes or mouthwashes, there is much we can do to take care of our companions.
At the end of the day, Buddy was able to return home very soon to continue being happy with his family, now taking even more care of his oral health to give out more smiles like this one.