"A dental for my pooch?"  "A teeth cleaning for my kitty?"  "I have never heard of such a thing!"  Ever heard people make these remarks?  Or, have you ever uttered these words yourself?  Well, now is the time to find out why it is so important to keep your pet's teeth healthy!! Pets Need Dental Care, too For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember.  Just like you, your pet needs dental care, too- regular, professional care from your veterinarian and effective daily home care from you to keep your pet's mouth healthy. Causes of Periodontal Disease Plaque is a colorless film that contains large amounts of bacteria.  If left unchecked, plaque builds up, creating infection, destroying gums and resulting in the loss of the tissues and bone that support the teeth.  Animals may lose their teeth, have trouble eating or worse- harbor an infection that may circulate throughout the body. Signs of Periodontal Disease All pets are at risk for developing dental problems.  Once your pet displays any of the warning signs below, serious periodontal disease may be present: bad breath yellow-brown crust on teeth bleeding gums change of chewing or eating habits tooth loss change in behaviour abnormal drooling Contributing Factors Poor Oral Hygiene: Ignoring the condition of your pet's mouth can lead to periodontal disease, tooth loss and other serious health problems, such as heart, liver and kidney failure. Breed: Periodontal disease is more common in smaller breed dogs and certain breeds of cats. Age: Periodontal disease is more common as pets grow older. Don't wait for these signs.  Periodontal disease can be prevented in most pets through professional and daily home care.  Start a preventive program of veterinarian-supervised dental care today!