Pet Dental Health Month

No one really likes to go to the dentist, but a sore tooth is one of the worst kinds of pain. And it`s the same for your pets. February is pet dental health month and veterinarians say it`s best to be pro-active about your dog or cat`s smile.

Fourteen-week-old Mocha was in for a checkup today. Her owners say they would do anything for the newest member of their family.

"We would, yep, we would. She`s just part of the family, like one of our boys or one of our girls," said Mocha`s owner Mariah Dodds.

Veterinarians say regular checkups are just as important for pets as they are for humans, so doctors can find problems early on, especially with their teeth. Vets say about 80 percent of adult dogs and cats have periodontal diseases like tartar and gingivitis.

"Left untreated that can lead to bone loss, infection, and discomfort," said veterinarian Hollee Clement of the Bismarck Animal Clinic. "So we`re trying to address these things in a pro-active nature and take care of things that may be uncomfortable for them."

The Bismarck Animal Clinic now has the tools to catch periodontal problems early on. Clement charts each tooth and if she comes across an abnormality, she runs an X-Ray. She says having the animal sedated also helps them do a thorough check.

"We`re finding lots of things that we wouldn`t be able to see without the X-ray there`s a lot going on in the bone that we can`t see above the gum line," said Clement.

Mocha`s owners says she`s a little young for X-rays, but they are making sure to be pro-active with her dental care.

"We do have a tooth brush that we use and we`ll bring her in for that when she`s a little older," said Dodds.

Vets say because cats and dogs can`t tell us how they`re feeling, it`s important for us to speak for them.

Clement says regular dental checkups are also important because diseases are usually advanced before the animal starts showing signs of discomfort like not eating or drooling.