There are several risk factors that can increase a pet’s susceptibility to developing dental disease. These include the following:
- Age - Dental disease is more common in older animals. However, it can affect cats and dogs of any age. In fact, pets as young as 3 years old have some form of dental disease.
- Breed - Although it can affect any breed of cat or dog, Persian, Siamese, and Himalayan cats have been shown to have an increased rate of tooth and gum problems. In dogs, it is the small breeds or brachycephalic (pug-nosed) breeds with higher risks of dental disease.
- Food - soft or wet pet food promote tooth and gum problems more rapidly than kibbles.
- Dental regimen - pets that don’t have a regular home dental regimen or veterinary care tend to have higher risks for dental disease.
Dental visits to your vet care Washington DC could not be skipped or postponed indefinitely in order to protect your pet from dental disease.
