Can dental disease affect my pets general health?
The most common dental disease in dogs and cats is periodontal disease, which is a gradual but progressive loss of the supportive structure of the teeth caused by the oral bacteria accumulating in the plaque and calculus. The discomfort and pain could cause the pet to change its eating patterns, loose weight, and be less active. The bacteria accumulated in the plaque and calculus may reach the blood-stream causing inflammation and thus compromising other internal organs such as kidneys and liver. In animals with endocrine diseases such as diabetes, the presence of periodontal disease could be the cause for the animal not to respond to the prescribed treatment.
