Dental disease is preventable

As a general practitioner, the single most common problem I see on a daily basis is dental disease. As many as 80 percent of pets older than 3 have some degree of dental disease, and the frequency and severity often increase with the age of the pet. Dental disease is a chronic source of pain, as well as infection and inflammation that can have detrimental effects on a pet’s heart, liver and kidneys. The most common type of dental disease is periodontal disease, which is a build-up of plaque and tartar from a bacterial infection under the gum line.