Dog Dental Month

February is Pet Dental Health Care month which means it’s a good time to take a look at your animal’s pearly whites. Studies show that two-thirds of our pets don’t get the dental maintenance they need to have healthy teeth.

What happens if I don't maintain my pet's teeth?

To get your pet’s teeth cleaned professionally requires the animal to be put under general anesthesia which is costly and can be hard on our pets. To ensure your pet is healthy enough to be put under, there is an examination which may include:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• X-rays
• Electrocardiography

Can I clean my pet's teeth at home?

Lucky for us, there are many ways we can care for our pets at home. Zamzows has many varieties of toothpaste and brushes formulated specifically for dogs and cats. Ideally, teeth should be brushed every day or, at least, a few times a week. This can be time-consuming, and with certain animals undoable, so we carry a variety of alternatives to brushing that are also very effective.

There is NO WAY my dog will let me brush his teeth...

Not to worry! Zamzows has a whole section dedicated to helping your dog's mouth stay healthy even if brushing is out of the question!

Water Additives- You can add a product to your pet’s water that both freshens breath and keeps plaque soft, preventing it from hardening into tartar.

Dental Treats- Treats can be great for allowing your dog to chew and scrape off the plaque and loosen anything stuck between teeth.

Chew Toys- Like dental treats, certain toys can be very beneficial for keeping teeth clean as well as stimulating gums, relieving stress, eliminating boredom, and providing a safe outlet for their natural desire to chew.

While February is Pet Dental Month, it is important to get into a regular dental regimen as a clean and healthy mouth is as important for them as it is for all of us. After all, isn’t that million dollar smile worth it?

This article was written by Cory McClymonds, Director of Store Development