Pet Dental Health month occurs every year in February and is a great opportunity to educate pet owners on the importance of dental health.
In most homes the day begins and ends with our own attempts at dental hygiene. We brush our teeth at least twice a day and we have become accustomed to visiting the dentist every six months for an exam and cleaning.
Dental hygiene and routine care is no less important for our pets. According to the
American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease as early as three years of age.
Dental disease can be progressive a result in serious health problems for our pets. Lack of care can result in gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth loss and even kidney and heart disease in some cases.
Annual dental care is at least as important for dogs and cats as it is for humans and maybe more so when you think about it. Consider that most dogs and cats don't get the
daily care and brushing and flossing that their owners provide for themselves. This would certainly help and it is possible, but lets face it, it doesn't happen in most cases.
For more information on how to start a home care plan for your dog or cat watch this
video.
If you provide your pet with a
PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care policy we provide a benefit for annual dental scaling and polishing. This can be one of the most important
procedures you can provide to keep your pet healthy.
You should be aware that this benefit can provide up to $200 per year if your pet is covered by a PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care policy.
Dental scaling and polishing involves the careful cleaning of all surfaces of the tooth including the area
below the gum line. The polishing helps discourage the accumulation of new plaque. It is imperative that this be done by a trained professional and include the use of general anesthesia. Can you imagine your pet sitting still for something like this without anesthesia?
In addition, prior to general anesthesia, some veterinarians may recommend a pre anesthetic exam including blood tests to make sure your pet is healthy enough for the procedure. For many pets this is a great idea and provides an extra level of safety.
Your pet will likely be placed on intravenous fluids and monitored during this procedure too. In many cases there may be medications prescribed and hospitalization may be needed following the the procedure. As you can see, it can be much more involved than your own visit to the dentist every six months. For these reasons it can be more costly too.
In some cases the annual $200 benefit provided by the PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care policy will cover the entire procedure but in some cases it won't. It would be a good idea to get an estimate of the fee your veterinarian charges for the entire procedure so you'll know how much will be covered by your policy after you have met your annual deductible and co-pay.
In any case, the annual dental scaling and polishing benefit provided by the PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care policy is an excellent way to keep your pet healthy and help you provide them with a lifetime of care.