February is Pet Dental Health Month
Dental health impacts your pet's overall health significantly. If dental disease is left untreated your pet is not only at risk of losing his teeth, but also vulnerable to life-threatening complications. When chronic infection is present in the mouth, bacteria can invade other parts of the body and compromise the immune system which can lead to disease of the heart and kidneys along with other essential organs. There are certain breeds that are more susceptible to dental disease and various methods for controlling tartar buildup, but preventative measures are beneficial to all pets.
You may think your pet will not accept a dental hygiene regimen or that you won't have the time to keep up with it. Fortunately, there's a solution for just about every owner and pet. In addition to spreading awareness this month, we've also decided to add some new dental health products at a discounted rate. We have several different types of dental chews of all sizes and flavors, Davis Dental Wipes (far less invasive than a toothbrush, making it much easier to brush your dog's teeth), and toys designed to clean your dog's teeth as he plays. As always, we have a variety of single ingredient, natural products that help to clean your dog's teeth as he chews while providing mental stimulation and keeping him busy. Lastly, diet is not often considered when it comes to dental health. It's commonly believed that kibble helps to clean teeth, but the truth is a little more complicated. The ingredients in the food, the size, shape, and hardness of the kibble all influence the effect it has on the teeth. For example, some pet foods contain sugar which contributes to decay. Some kibble is small enough to be swallowed whole and provides no dental benefit, some crumbles so easily that plaque building up on the teeth is left undisturbed. Healthy ingredients (and certainly the avoidance of any foods containing sugar) is most important when choosing a pet food. In order to encourage our clients to learn more about all the benefits of a quality food (including dental health), we're offering a sale on Taste of the Wild pet food this month as well.
Come by the shop and check out the new items! The variety of options will make it quick and simple to care for your pet's teeth at home (remember, if your pet is groomed here he gets his teeth brushed at each visit!) We'll be happy to answer any questions you have and help you to select the best product for your pet.