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The Importance of Pet Dental Health

Oct 01, 2025 03:43PM ● By Jerome Bilaos

By Longevity Veterinary Center

Most pet parents stay on top of pet wellness exams and vaccinations, but one thing that often falls by the wayside is pet dental health. Unfortunately, just like in humans, poor dental hygiene in pets can have far-reaching consequences on their overall health, with severe impacts that may be surprising.     

Why Is Dental Health Important for Pets?     

Dental health in pets isn’t just about fresh breath or shiny teeth—it’s a key component of their overall well-being. Poor dental hygiene can lead to periodontal disease, which is one of the most common medical conditions in pets, affecting over 80% of dogs and cats by the age of 3. Periodontal disease is a chronic condition that starts with plaque buildup on the teeth and can progress to gum disease and tooth loss if it is not properly addressed.     

Perhaps more significantly, the health of your pet’s mouth is intricately connected to the health of their body overall. Infections that start in the mouth can spread through the bloodstream, affecting vital organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys. In this sense, dental health is not just about avoiding toothaches; it’s about protecting your pet from potentially life-threatening conditions.     

How Dental Health Affects Overall Health     

Heart Disease: One of the most concerning impacts of poor dental hygiene in pets is the increased risk of heart disease. Bacteria from gum infections or dental disease can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. This can lead to endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves that can impair heart function. Over time, untreated dental disease can significantly strain the heart, leading to heart failure.

Kidney Disease: As with the heart, bacteria from the mouth can spread through the bloodstream to the kidneys. Chronic kidney disease is a common issue in aging pets, but poor dental health can accelerate its progression. Infections and inflammation caused by dental issues can put additional stress on the kidneys, potentially causing irreversible damage.

Liver Disease: The liver is responsible for filtering toxins from the body, and when infections spread from the mouth to the liver, it can lead to liver inflammation or hepatic disease. The bacteria associated with dental problems can impair liver function, which in turn can affect your pet’s ability to detoxify and metabolize nutrients properly.

Diabetes: In some studies, pets with periodontal disease have been shown to have higher blood sugar levels. The inflammation and bacteria from oral infections can make it harder for your pet’s body to regulate blood glucose levels, possibly contributing to the development or worsening of diabetes. For diabetic pets, poor dental health can further complicate the condition and make managing blood sugar levels more difficult.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Pet’s Dental Health?     

Thankfully, many dental issues in pets can be prevented with regular dental care. Here’s how you can help protect your pet’s dental health:     

  • Do Regular Tooth Brushing or Use Pet Tooth Gel

  • Offer Natural Dental Chews and Toys

  • Schedule Professional Dental Cleanings Every 6 Months

  • Have Regular Veterinary Check-ups Including Dental Health

  • Maintain a Healthy Diet of Fresh Foods

  • Watch for Warning Signs Such as Bad Breath, Drooling, or Difficulty Eating

At Longevity Veterinary Center, we take pet dental health seriously. We offer non-anesthetic dental (NAD) cleanings for both dogs and cats (10% off on Tuesdays!), as well as full anesthetic dental cleanings and procedures as needed. 

Longevity Veterinary Center is located at 265 Route 10 East in Whippany. For information and appointments call 973-606-1101 and visit LVCNJ.com. See ad, page 23.
In-Print Local Insights October 2025

 

 

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Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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