3 Heart & Dental Health Tips for Roc …

February is an excellent time to focus on your pet’s heart and smile—both literally and figuratively. It’s both American Heart Month for pets and National Pet Dental Health Month. This means now is the time for pet parents to focus on two key areas of wellness: oral hygiene and cardiovascular care.
Here’s what the team at Pet Dominion Animal Hospital wants you to know about pet dental care and heart health in pets.
Top 3 Tips for Pet Heart and Dental Health
1. Schedule Regular Dental Exams and Cleanings
Routine dental exams are one of the best ways to prevent painful infections, tooth loss, and advanced gum disease in pets.
Professional dog teeth cleaning and feline dental evaluations let veterinarians get rid of hardened plaque and tartar that can’t be eliminated with brushing alone. These visits also include a careful examination of your pet’s tooth and gum structure, including the areas you can only see with X-rays.
Here at Pet Dominion Animal Hospital, our skilled team uses X-rays, scaling, and polishing to restore your pet’s dental health to its optimal state.
2. Protect Your Pet’s Heart Through Preventive Care
Dental disease can affect far more than your pet’s mouth. It can also impact the entire body. Here’s why: bacteria from infected gums can get into your pet’s bloodstream and negatively affect the heart, kidneys, and other organs.
That’s why building and maintaining a pet dental care routine is a crucial part of protecting your pet’s heart.
In addition to maintaining tip-top oral hygiene, pet parents can support heart wellness in several ways, including:
- Monitoring their pets’ weight
- Feeding nutritious, heart-healthy diets
- Scheduling yearly or bi-yearly wellness exams
- Keeping an eye out for symptoms of a potential heart issue, like coughing, fatigue, difficulty breathing, or lowered activity levels
If you do notice any worrisome signs of a potential heart issue, need to schedule an annual exam, or want tips for the ideal diet for your pet, reach out to your local vet for a winter wellness exam.
Hint: Here in Rockville, Pet Dominion Animal Hospital can help with all of the above!
3. Build a Consistent, At-Home Dental and Wellness Routine
Daily at-home care can make a huge difference in your pet’s long-term heart and oral health. Brushing your pet’s teeth several times per week supports your cat’s oral health and helps prevent plaque buildup in dogs.
Use pet-safe toothpaste and introduce brushing slowly to make the experience positive for your pet (and for you!).
Along with maintaining a dental wellness routine, focus on heart-healthy habits like giving your pet regular exercise, mental stimulation, and a nutritious diet.
If you need help with anything related to your pet, the caring team at Pet Dominion Animal Hospital is here for you. We can clean your pet’s teeth, examine below the gumline for any unseen tooth issues, and advise you on the best ways to maintain excellent heart health.
Call us at (301) 258-0333 to schedule an appointment today!