6 Signs of Pet Dental Disease

Common Conditions Can Be Prevented

How well do you know your pet's dental health? Dental care is just as important to pets as it is to humans.

Fact: 8 out of 10 dogs and 7 out of 10 cats show signs of dental disease by age three. That may seem young, but remember pets age rapidly. Dental disease is a problem for pets, causing pain, tooth loss and overall bad health from the bacteria in the mouth.

Nationwide pet insurance policyholders filed $19 million in dental-related claims in 2017. Small dogs were responsible for  10% more dental claims than large dogs. The average claim amount for treating tooth-related disease was $404.

Does Your Pet Have Dental Disease?

So, what are some indicators that your cat or dog may have dental disease? Let your veterinarian know if your pet has any of the following issues:

• Bad breath
• Loose or discolored teeth (brown or yellow) or teeth covered in tartar
• Your pet is not comfortable with you touching within the mouth area
• Drooling or dropping food from the mouth
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Loss of appetite or loss of weight       

Prevent Dental Disease

You can help prevent the onset of dental disease by doing three simple things:

1. Take your pet in for a comprehensive oral health and treatment (COHAT) appointment. Until the issues with your pet’s mouth are treated, home care will be ineffective.
2. Follow your veterinarian’s care recommendations, which typically include dental cleaning under anesthesia and may include extracting problem teeth and other treatments.
3. Start a home-care regimen. Your veterinarian can recommend proper tools and pet-safe toothpaste, and show you how to get started.

Nationwide's medical plans cover eligible dental disease expenses — everything from tooth abscesses to root canals and periodontal disease. To learn more, click here.