February is National Pet Dental Health Month

Open wide!  
Time to take a close look at your teeth.

To celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month, my pals at Greenies and Nutro  put together some tips on spotting oral pain or disease in pets.

Cats are often harder to "read" than dogs.  They seem to be more private.   The signs they display may be subtle.  Here is the list Greenies and Nutro compiled (in green).

• Your cat grooms less or stops grooming at all
• Your cat acts more distant than usual
• Changes in your cats’ eating or sleeping patterns

Dogs on the other paw are more willing to share their symptoms with humans.  How many times have you breathed in your human's face, and they pull back, saying peeee-uuuu?  Really foul dog breath is a symptom of an oral health problem.   Time to see your veterinarian for an oral exam.  My vet checks inside my mouth every time I visit him.  I saw him this month, and he said my teeth are great!  I am pretty proud of this since I am almost 5 years old, and a small dog.  I have not needed a dental cleaning yet.  Naturally, I strongly protest having my teeth brushed by Mom.  She does it the easy way; she gives me a Greenie smeared with dog toothpaste every night.  High Paw Greenies!

My pals at Nutro and Greenies said that during an oral exam, your veterinarian will look for these warning signs (in green).

• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Swelling in your dog’s face
• Discoloration of the teeth, gums or tongue

For more information on pet oral care and how to help prevent oral disease, make sure to check out the GREENIES® Pet Dental Health Month pages for dogs and cats.

In case you do need a dental cleaning, many veterinarians are offering a discount on dental cleanings during National Pet Dental Health Month.

When was the last time your veterinarian looked at your teeth?  What did he say?

Disclaimer: "This post was written by a Nutro Knowledge Network member and sponsored by the Nutro Company."