Although it may seem like a difficult process, with the right tools brushing your ferret’s teeth can be doable. Most Veterinarians recommend that you brush your ferret’s teeth twice a month (at least) to keep your ferret’s teeth healthy. This guide will show you how.
Why Should You Brush Your Ferret’s Teeth?
Dental disease. More and more it has been determined, that like people, pets need dental care to prevent dental disease and to keep them healthy overall. Brushing a dog’s teeth has been recommended by Vets for a long time. As this has become common practice, Vets have been recommending dental care for other pets as well–including ferrets.
Dental disease in ferrets, as well as in other pets and in people, starts with gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. This inflammation is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the pockets surrounding the teeth. Untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a disease involving the teeth and gum pockets. Eventually, these oral bacteria also invade the bloodstream and can cause infections in the kidneys and even the heart valves. The severity of gingivitis is partly determined by the strength of the ferret’s immune system. It occurs in middle-aged to older ferrets. Periodontal disease, luckily, is uncommon in ferrets.
Continue reading Brushing Your Ferret’s Teeth—A Guide
