Schertz Animal Hospital’s Blog

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness (44.7 million in 2016). To be sure, many people struggle with some form of mental illness or know someone who has. But do our pets suffer from the same types of conditions?

Whether or not mental illness affects animals is hard to pinpoint. After all, we can’t ask our pets how they’re feeling. However, there are certain behavior patterns that lead veterinarians to diagnose mental illness in pets. In some cases, they may even prescribe medication to alleviate certain symptoms.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Raising awareness of this essential component of pet care is vitally important, and helps establish healthy habits year-round. To that end, Schertz Animal Hospital deducts 20% off dental cleanings in February and March. Even though many pet owners are on board to protect their pet from the dangers of gum disease, questions remain about the connection between pet dental health and whole body wellness.

Your pet may not need to be camera ready all the time, but their “smile” does matter. What starts as a little bad breath and tartar buildup can quickly progress to full blown periodontal disease, if left untreated.

Periodontal disease is defined as the progressive inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth. It happens when gingivitis – inflammation of the gums  – combines with inflammation of the tooth root and bone to result in periodontitis.

Periodontitis is the most common cause of tooth loss in pets, affecting over 85% of pets by the age of 4. Schertz Animal Hospital looks at causes of periodontal disease and how to treat and prevent it in your pets.

Many pet owners are still surprisingly ill at ease when it comes to pet dental care. Sure, like other new adventures, brushing your pet’s teeth might seem a bit daunting at first. We can assure that with equal measures of patience, practice and determination, you’ll be setting your pet up for a brighter, healthier future. What could be better than that?

Forming a New Habit

Brushing our own teeth is something we do every day (at least twice). In fact, it’s so much a part of our day that to skip it just feels downright wrong. Well, getting to this point with your pet can take some time, but if you are consistent the process of adopting the habit will go by quickly and easily. Before you know it, brushing your pet’s teeth will be just another thing you do together.